Madras HC: Don’t interfere in idol probe, government told

Justice R Mahadevan also insisted that no one should touch the case diary or any other materials regarding the investigation carried out by the IG as he has been appointed by the High Court to investigate into the matter.

The judge’s observation had come following Additional Advocate General (AAG) P H Arvindh Pandian’s submission that the officer is not submitting any details about the arrests and recoveries made in the cases. Countering this, the IG submitted that in the guise of review meetings he is being asked to disclose all details including the case diaries regarding the investigation in progress. He further submitted that the directions given by the Court are not implemented properly and the officials working for the wing are constantly transferred.

The petitioner in the case, Advocate Elephant Rajendran also submitted that the Government has not implemented the directions given by the High Court vide order dated July 21, 2017. He said while the HR&CE claims that they are unable to carry out certain works in the temples without the permission of the Court appointed Committee, in some cases they have demolished the temples and one such case is Thiruvembainallur temple.

Advocate Muniapparaj who appeared on behalf of some of the temples alleged that not only the idols but temples itself are missing. Another petitioner Rangarajan Narasimhan who appeared in party in person submitted that the CCTV cameras in most of the temples were non-functional. The HR& CE Commissioner R Jaya who was present in the Court submitted that her rights were affected as she was kept in the dark about the probe by the Idol wing investigation department.

However, the Judge then directed the petitioners to file the pleadings in the form of affidavits and posted the case for further hearing to July 11.