HC directs TN police to produce records on sale of idols

The Madras High Court today directed the Tamil Nadu Police to produce records before it on the sale of two idols made of five-metal alloys and worth about Rs 20 crore by officials of its Idol Wing, without recording its seizure.
Justice R Mahadevan gave the order orally while hearing a petition by advocate 'Elephant' G Rajendran, seeking a direction to transfer the probe to the Crime Branch of the CID from the Idol Wing and posted the matter for further hearing to June 29.
According to Rajendran, Arokiaraj and Santhanam were arrested on April 4 when they were attempting to sell the panchaloha idols to a foreign national.

Police later handed over the two along with the idols to the Idol Wing.
Idol Wing Inspector Kader Batcha and Sub Inspector Gopal instead of taking action against Arokiaraj and Santhanam, sold the idols to a smuggler for Rs 15 lakh, without recording its seizure.
On a complaint from DSP Ashok Natarajan of the Idol Wing, criminal cases were registered against Kader Batcha, Subraj and a constable of the wing.

Meanwhile, Batcha was promoted as DySP.
Rajendran submitted that case was now handled by an officer in the rank of inspector of the wing and he cannot effectively handle the case, as Batcha's rank is senior than the investigating official.

Contending that the protectors of the antique has committed a crime, the petitioner submitted that the accused were not suspended till today and there was every chance of them escaping from the clutches of law. He sought transfer of the case from the Idol Wing to the Crime Branch of the CID and filing of a charge sheet against the three within a time frame fixed by the court.