Madras HC summons four DCs, three ACs, and six inspectors to delay the investigation

The judge said that it would not be fair for officials to hide under the guise of being transferred to other areas due to the long duration of investigations in criminal cases and it is expected that the complainants go to court at all times. | Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO

The Madras High Court has summoned four Deputy Commissioners of Police, three Assistant Commissioners, and six inspectors who have been working in the Koyambedu Range in Chennai since 2021 to explain why the investigation in the cheating case registered in 2020 has not been completed so far.

Judge AD Jagadish Chandira suo motu opposed the police as respondents in the contempt of court petition filed by the complainant and ordered them to appear in court on November 5 to explain the reasons for not completing the investigation within two months as the court ordered. on February 16, 2022.

The judge revealed that J. Manohar Dass, from Katpadi in Vellore district, first filed a complaint with the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner on February 1, 2020, accusing a Chennai tour operator, Jayasingh Vasanth Ranjith, of defrauding him. R13.66 lakh. According to the complainant, the money was paid for a pilgrimage to a foreign country, but the travel agent was unable to arrange a visa and did not refund the money. The complaint was forwarded to the Koyambedu police and a First Information Report was registered on August 28, 2020.

Nothing much happened after that, which forced the complainant to go to the Supreme Court in 2022 and get a direction to complete the investigation and submit the final report within two months. However, there was inaction for more than two years, which is why the appellant chose to file a contempt petition against the Inspector.

When Justice Chandira wanted to know why there was so much inaction on the part of the police despite certain court orders, the Government counsel replied that it was because of the constant transfer of inspectors sent to the Koyambedu station. Immediately, the judge called the details of police officers posted as DCs, ACs, and inspectors in the Koyambedu Range and was informed that Indian Police Service (IPS) officers R. Shiva Prasad, P. Kumar, G. Umayyal, and G . Subbulakshmi served as Deputy Commissioners from 1 February 2022. US. Ramesh Babu, MG Arun, and R. Saravanan served as Assistant Commissioners from 5 March 2021. R. Gopalaguru, S. Rajeesh Babu, Chandrasekar, Kameswari, US. Komathi, and K. If Maheswari worked as inspectors from January 8, 2021, the judge was told. After indicting all of them as defendants, the judge said that it would not be right for officials to take refuge under the guise of an appeal due to the investigation of criminal cases and it is expected that the plaintiffs will knock on the doors of the courts. all categories.