The Madras High Court today directed a senior Tamil Nadu police official to arrest a DySP and an SI for alleged involvement in illegal sale of ancient idols worth Rs 20 crore eight years ago.
Justice R Mahadevan gave the direction and posted the matter to tomorrow when Inspector General of Police (Idol Wing) Pon Manikavel appeared before him complying with an oral order passed on June 27 seeking information on the case.
He was hearing a petition by advocate Elephant Rajendran seeking transfer of the case related to the theft of two idols to the Crime Branch-CID, citing the alleged involvement of the officials of the Idol Wing.
The judge also raised probing questions on the action taken so far.
"Why you have not arrested the police personnel involved in the idol theft. Don't you know their whereabouts?" the court asked the IG.
In response, the IG said they were in Chennai.
The judge then directed him to arrest the two policemen.
Justice Mahadevan also sought to know the strength of the Idol Wing and directed the IG to file an affidavit mentioning the details.
He had on June 27 directed the IG to appear in the court and produce records pertaining to the case.
According to the petitioner, the two 'panchaloha' (five-metal) idols were sold to a smuggler in 2008 allegedly by Idol Wing Inspector Kader Batcha, who has since been promoted as a DySP, and constable Subraj, now a sub-inspector, for Rs 15 lakh.
They had recovered the idols from two persons accused of attempting to sell them to a foreigner, but allegedly did not record the seizure, the petition said.
On a complaint from Idol Wing DySP Ashok Natarajan, criminal cases were later registered against Batcha and Subraj, it submitted, adding it was pending before a court in Srivilliputhur in Virudhunagar district.
The accused have not been suspended, it said.
The petitioner said the matter came to his knowledge in April this year by way of a letter left on his car.
Stating that the case cannot be effectively handled by an inspector of the wing since Batcha's rank was higher than that of the investigating officer, he sought its transfer to the CB-CID.
Contending that the protectors of antique had committed a crime, the petitioner said there was every chance that the accused could escape from the clutches of law.
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