The Madras High Court today ordered transfer of a 15-year-old case relating to the murder of woman to CBI from Tamil Nadu police.
Observing that the state, which has got constitutional obligation to ensure the safety of citizens and to ensure that real perpetrators of the crime are traced, tried before courts of Law and punished according to it, Justice S Nagamuthu allowed a petition filed by the husband of the woman for transferring the case to CBI.
The HC judge also directed the Director General of Police to pay Rs 3 lakh to the husband of the deceased and other legal heirs of the deceased, who shall share it in equal measure as compensation from out of the reserve fund of Rs 30 lakh lying with him as per Tamil Nadu Victim Compensation Scheme-2013 within four months from the date of the receipt of today's order.
The case relates to the murder for gain of Shenbagavalli on October 8, 1999.
The investigation was first carried out by police at Vikravandi. As there was no progress, as per the orders of the High Court, it was transferred to CBCID. Even after that, there was no progress and then the petitioner filed a contempt plea which was closed by the High Court stating that the probe was seriously done.
As no culprits were arrested till date, the petitioner M Balu approached the High Court again to transfer the case to CBI.
Justice Nagamuthu in his order said "it is unfortunate that 17 officers of higher rank in the Tamil Nadu Police, drawn from various specialised units, could not make any progress in the investigation to trace the culprits, though it is a very serious, sensational and gruesome murder."
"We cannot make the petitioner wait for justice as he has waited for an unduly long period. It is absolutely necessary for this court to transfer the investigation to CBI", the judge said.
