CHENNAI: Holding it as a textbook case which demonstrates the evil effects of the unholy nexus between a serving senior police officer, advocates, businessmen and goondas, the Madras High Court on Friday transferred a criminal intimidation case against IPS officer P Sivanandi to the CB-CID.
“This is in fact a fit case to be transferred to the CBI, but this court does not want to take the extreme step, as the State government, by opposing the petition of the accused tooth and nail, has manifestly demonstrated its sincerity”, said Justice PN Prakash, while passing the order.
The issue pertains to a complaint made by D Pandiarajan against Sivanandi, holding the post of Chief Vigilance Officer of State Transport Corporation in Tirunelveli, and a few others of threatening him with dire consequences if he failed to withdraw a complaint he had made against one Ganapathy Ramasubramaniam for siphoning off `50 lakh invested by him in a bottling company.
Apprehending action against the accused, including Sivanandi, a group of lawyers barged into the residence of the Chief Justice of Madras High Court seeking special motion to move anticipatory bail to the accused in April last.
The incident that happened when the Chief Justice was in New Delhi to attend the All-India Conference of Chief Justices had kicked up a major controversy. Recalling the incident, the judge said, “The glorious reputation of the Madras HC reached its nadir... The police remained stoic and gave the lawyers a free-hand, perhaps out of fear of reprisal.
This incident once again proved the point how defenceless the judges are”, Justice Prakash added.