Suspended IAS officer Santosh Verma at District Court (Representative Photo)
ANAND SHIVRE

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday ordered for shifting of the petition seeking SIT in the case of IAS Santosh Verma to the principal bench at Jabalpur.

The division bench comprising Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Anil Verma issued such an order after the registry office submitted its report into the matter.

On July 28, the Indore bench observed, 'In view of the relief prayed for by the petitioner, the Registry of this Court is directed to examine in light of the MP High Court Rules, whether this matter needs to be listed before the Principal Seat because the relief is also claimed against the judges and officers of the court.”

After the registry office submitted its report, the Indore bench ordered for shifting the petition to the principal bench at Jabalpur.

On the complaint of special judge Vijendra Singh Rawat, MG Road police had registered a case against Santosh Verma for preparing a fake order of the court and presenting it in the general administration department.

Verma, who received the IAS award through fake order, has been taken into custody by the police. He is currently in judicial custody till August 13.

In the case, the police had quizzed the then district prosecution officer Mohd Akram Sheikh also. Besides, statements of several judicial staff were also taken. The investigation in the matter is still on.

Alok Kumawat through his advocate Gagan Bajad filed public interest litigation before the Indore Bench seeking SIT into the case as names of administrative officers, judicial officers, judicial employees come up in the matter. The next hearing in the matter has been set for August 10.