Criminal contempt proceedings: Madras HC dispenses with appearance of three cops

MADURAI: The Madras high court on Monday dispensed with the appearance of three police personnel against whom suo motu criminal contempt proceedings were initiated as they were causing hindrance to the Kovilpatti judicial magistrate while the latter was conducting an inquest in connection with the custodial deaths of P Jeyaraj and his son J Beniks in Sathankulam.
The Kovilpatti judicial magistrate had submitted a report to the HC Madurai bench stating that the policemen were preventing the inquest. The JM had said the Sathankulam police constable made a disparaging remark in Tamil against him.
Based on the JM's report, the HC Madurai bench initiated suo motu criminal contempt proceedings in June, against the three police personnel - former additional superintendent of police D Kumar, former deputy superintendent of police C Prathapan and constable Maharajan.
Pursuant to the earlier direction of this court, the three police personnel had submitted their response on Monday.
A division bench of Justices M Sathyanarayanan and P Rajamanickam said the appearance of three contemnors is dispensed with for now and they shall appear before this court as and when required.
The case has been adjourned to September 7 for further hearing.