CHENNAI: Suspension of a DGP-rank officer facing sexual harassment complaint from a woman IPS officer has reposed public faith in the investigation, the Madras high court has said, adding that people are keenly watching the probe.
Justice N Anand Venkatesh, who made the observation on Tuesday, then directed the CB-CID to complete the investigation in eight weeks tentatively and file a final report before the jurisdictional court concerned.
“This positive action on the part of the state will bring in a lot of confidence in the investigation that is conducted by a subordinate officer. This positive stand taken by the state will also reinforce the confidence in the minds of the general public who are keenly watching the progress of the investigation in this case,” said Justice Anand Venkatesh.
Pointing out that the investigating officer has recorded statements of 87 witnesses apart from the accused persons in a short span of time, Justice Anand Venkatesh said, “This court deems it fit to place on record the appreciable manner in which the investigation has taken place in this case. This court hopes that the IO will be able to complete the investigation and file a final report before the court concerned within eight weeks.”
Earlier, advocate Abdul Salim, representing the DGP, submitted that an impleading petition has been filed the DGP, explaining his stand in the present case. “This court must take into consideration the stand taken by the accused person since, according to him, the entire prosecution is attended with mala fides and there is a larger conspiracy behind this case,” he added.
However, noting that defence of the accused person comes into play only during trial, the judge said, “At this stage, this court cannot take into consideration the stand of the accused persons and at the best, this court can only ensure that the investigation is carried on in a free and fair manner.”
The judge passed the interim order while hearing the suo motu plea initiated by the court after taking cognizance of the issue.
On March 16, he had directed the Tamil Nadu government to consider taking a positive by suspending the DGP and restore public confidence that the issue had been taken up with all seriousness and the investigation would progress in a free and fair manner.
The court made the observation since the DGP was not suspended even though a superintendent of police, who stopped the woman officer from proceeding further to Chennai to lodge a complaint at the instance of the DGP, was suspended.
On Tuesday, special senior counsel for the state AL Somayaji submitted that the DGP has been placed under suspension through a GO dated March 18.