Citing a CBI communication dated September 19, CBI’s counsel K Srinivasan informed the division bench comprising Justice R Mahadevan and Justice PD Audikesavalu that, “Considering the large number of idol theft cases pending in various stages, future cases likely to come up and severe shortage of manpower, it cannot take up investigation into all the idol theft cases as proposed by the State.

“But the CBI will extend full cooperation and support to the special investigation team, which is already investigating such cases, and help with extradition of accused, issue Red Corner notices and coordinate with Interpol,” the communication added.

The bench on recording CBI’s submission asked the Advocate General (AG) Vijay Narayan as to why the State had issued the Government Order (GO) to transfer the investigation to the CBI, without following due procedure. The AG submitted that the State had received a communication from the CBI seeking details of the pending cases enabling them to decide on taking up probe. “But the letter expressing the inability to do so was not received by the State.” he added. With the AG seeking time to get instructions from TN, the bench posted the hearing after a week.

On August 1, the State had passed a GO transferring all idol theft cases to the CBI. Subsequently, based on a plea against such a move, the High Court, in an interim order on August 7, had stayed the GO.