HC notice to Home Secy, DGP on

Madras High Court has issued notice to Home Secretary and DGP on a petition by a man seeking action against police who allegedly tortured and forced him to sign sale documents of his properties to a particular individual.
Justice T Raja, before whom a petition filed by one Saravanan came up for hearing, directed the Home Secretary, Director General of Police and Coimbatore City Police Commissioner to fie their reply within a period of two weeks.
The petitioner submitted that he was into the real estate business and was residing with his mother, wife and daughter in a rented house in White Well area in the city.

Saravanan said he had purchased several properties from 2009 to 2013. On February 22 last year, he was travelling with his friend on a motorbike when seven policemen intercepted them, took them in a police van and severely beat them, alleging that they had stolen jewels from a marriage hall.
He alleged that the Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramesh Krishna took them to the marriage hall, shot a video of them and made enquiries with the people there.
They were then taken to a lodge in Coimbatore, kept in illegal confinement, beaten and taken to his house, where all jewellery from his wife and daughter and documents were taken.

Saravanan said household material was thrown out of his residence and they were again taken to the lodge and kept in illegal custody for more than 10 days.

He submitted that he and his friend were tortured and police forced them to transfer the documents to people whom they referred and register it to one Shajahan.
The petitioner also alleged that police had threatened him that if he did not do so, they would slap a case under immoral trafficking act against his wife.
Police also registered a case against him that he killed aged women, Saravanan said.
The petitioner who shifted residence after being granted bail, said he had already given a complaint against all the police officials involved to the Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore City.

As there was no action he moved the High Court to seek action on the erring officials, he said.