BANGALORE: The state government on Thursday informed the High Court that RK Datta will continue further investigation into the March 2 violence that rocked the City Civil Court. The court directed the state to submit a status report on the action taken till date on April 2.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna, while hearing a PIL filed by Advocates’ Association, Bangalore, sought a CBI inquiry into the incident.
Advocate General S Vijay Shankar read out RK Datta’s investigation report.
Counsel for the petitioners argued that the state has not initiated any action against any officer despite a complaint lodged by the Registrar of the City Civil Court.
The said officer is investigating on his own, and we don’t believe that the probe will be effective, he said.
Another counsel for the petitioners stated that half of the 173 cases are filed against the police. The police had done mahazar (spot inspection) on March 2 without consulting the in-charge officer or registrar and there were blood stains, which were all swept away by machines, they contended.
Justice Sen questioned the Advocate General as to who was present while the mahazar, when he replied that the court falls under the jurisdiction of Ulsoor Gate Police Station.
He also added that the mahazar was conducted under the supervision of Station Head Officer Parameshwar. Shankar also added that he has video and photographic evidence and information on the mahazar will be produced before court.
He added that Pranab Mohanty (IGP and Joint Commissioner of Police, Bangalore) will investigate the 173 cases.
‘Keep Policemen Away from Probe’
Hearing the petition, a High Court bench directed that the three DCPs involved in the violence, Ramesh, Ravikante Gowda and Siddaramappa, and ACPs Gachinakatti Pirappa S, Shekar and Veerabhadre Gowda be kept away from the investigation.
The bench added that if they try to interfere in the investigation, the state government must suspend them. The bench further directed the state to give a status report on the action taken on the incident on April 2 by 4 pm and copies of the video footage, which is mentioned in Datta’s report of the policemen being involved in the violence on the court premises.
Also, the case was adjourned to April 3 for further hearing.