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‘Unhappy’ with HC over idol theft cases, State to rope in CBI
The reported tussle between the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) and the HC appointed Idol Wing headed by IG Pon Manickavel over arrests being made surfaced yet again, with the State informing the court on Wednesday that it has taken a policy decision to transfer all the idol theft cases to the CBI.
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Additional Advocate General P H Arvind Pandiyan made the above submission before the special bench comprising Justice R Mahadevan and Justice PD Audikesavulu, after finding fault with Pon Manickavel’s probe. He said the decision was taken since the performance of Manickvel was unsatisfactory. Moreover, despite the lapse of a year, not a single report was filed on progress made in stalling idol thefts.
However, one of the petitioners, advocate Elephant Rajendran, claimed that he would legally oppose such handover of cases. To this, the bench headed by Justice Mahadevan said, “Let the government pass the order first.” Further, the bench on directing the AAG to submit the documents pertaining to the policy decision taken by the Government also directed Manickavel to file a status report on the cases and posted the matter to August 8 for further hearing.
The issue pertains to a batch of pleas including one moved by Rajendran seeking direction from the State to check idol thefts and recover stolen idols. Another plea moved by Rangarajan Narasimhan pertains to the theft of various doors and idols at Sri Ranganathar Temple in Tiruchy.
The HC appointed officer was transferred in an alleged bid to safeguard certain names that surfaced during the probe. But the court quashed the transfer order. It also held that none can interfere with the probe into the cases. This apart, the HC also constituted a special bench to hear the cases exclusively.
After the arrest of State Chief Sthapathi, the Idol Wing police on Wednesday arrested HR&CE additional commissioner M Kavitha in connection with the alleged misappropriation in making a gold idol of Lord Somaskander for the Ekambaranathar temple. The bail application moved by Kavitha is set to be heard on Friday.
‘IM’PROPER PROBE?
- The issue pertains to a batch of pleas including one moved by Rajendran seeking direction from the State to check idol thefts and recover stolen idols.
- Another plea moved by Rangarajan Narasimhan pertains to the theft of various doors and idols at Sri Ranganathar Temple in Tiruchy.
- The HC appointed officer was transferred in an alleged bid to safeguard certain names that surfaced during the probe. But the court quashed the transfer order.
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