The Madras High Court has directed disciplinary proceedings against two Virugambakkam police inspectors in a Chennai land grab case after allegations that they threatened a complainant to withdraw his complaint and later registered a case against him under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Justice N Ramesh issued the directions while hearing anticipatory bail petitions filed by Paldurai and three others accused in the dispute. The case relates to a complaint by S Surya alleging an attempt to take over a 1,800-square-foot plot in Kumaran Colony, Vadapalani, through fabricated documents.
Based on Surya’s complaint, police registered a case against three people, including Paldurai, a Vadapalani resident, for allegedly preparing fake documents concerning the property. The accused approached the High Court, apprehending arrest.
During an earlier hearing, the court had directed the Virugambakkam police inspector to inquire into the complaint against Paldurai and submit a report. At a subsequent hearing, it was submitted that the inspector had threatened Surya and asked him to withdraw the complaint. According to the submissions recorded by the court, Surya refused to do so.
It was further alleged that a case was then registered against Surya under the SC/ST Act on the basis of a complaint filed by Paldurai’s wife, following which Surya was arrested. The report does not indicate that the allegations against the police officers have been finally established.
After recording the submissions, the High Court dismissed the anticipatory bail petition and directed Chennai Police Commissioner to initiate disciplinary proceedings against inspectors Munisekar and Rajesh. The order places the conduct of the local police station under review while the underlying property dispute continues through the legal process.
The court also directed the commissioner to appoint an officer of joint commissioner rank to conduct an inquiry into the allegations against the two inspectors. The inquiry officer has been directed to submit a report by December 4. The proceedings will determine the administrative response to the allegations concerning the handling of the land complaint and the subsequent case against the complainant.
