Idol theft: Officials warned for hindering probe

The special bench comprising Justice R Mahadevan and Justice PD Audikesavalu who heard the case through video conferencing on Monday with the latter sitting at the Madurai bench, wondered as to who was behind the court order not being implemented.

Earlier, as the bench commenced its sitting Additional Advocate General PH Aravindh Pandian on informing the court that the team led by court-appointed Special Officer Pon Manickavel has been provided with all the facilities, sought the court to dispense his presence for the day.

But later when the plea pertaining to idol thefts came up, Pon Manickavel informed the bench that despite court orders, a mere one per cent of the facility has been provided resulting in almost 60 days being lost.

He said the investigating officer DSP Paneerselvam attached to Sivakanchi police station was yet to handover the case diaries pertaining to idol theft cases and was refusing to answer his phone and take orders from him. 

He also told the court that the DSP has been missing for the past 20 days and owing to this, the accused on conditional bail had failed to report at the police station.

The retired police officer also noted that the DSP ought to be suspended and even arrested for ignoring the orders of the officer heading the team.

To this, Justice Mahadevan directed the DSP present in court to hand over the case diary and observed that the court cannot be hasty. However, he asked Pon Manickavel to arrest the DSP if there were provisions available in the law for this.

The petitioner in the case, Elephant Rajendran also informed the bench that the threats against him were increasing by the day and despite court orders, the police were yet to provide him with security. He also noted that if anything happens to him the police ought to compensate his family with Rs 10 crore.

When Justice Mahadevan sought to obtain police response in this regard, he realised that none of the law officers were present. Following this, the Judge insisted that despite the presence of AAG or not, law officers related to the case ought to be present.

The bench then posted the cases for further hearing to January 24. It may be noted that the bench, during the previous hearing, had threatened the State with declaration of ‘judicial emergency’ if the government undermined the probe in idol theft cases.