Madras HC Bench orders suo motu contempt proceedings against erring cop

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday directed its Registry to file a suo motu contempt case against a police inspector associated with Chinnamanur Police Station, Theni district, as he failed to produce an accused in connection with a habeas corpus petition.

A Division Bench of Justices K K Sasidharan and B Gokuldas also directed Theni district Superintendent of Police to appear and produce the accused before the court on August 8.

Petitioner K Seetha Devi said that she married one J Dhanam Jayan of Idukki district in Kerala, after falling in love with him while pursuing higher studies. They got married in 2011 and moved to Bengaluru later. Though her parents provided 50 sovereigns of gold as dowry, her mother-in-law J Prasanna used to torture her mentally, mainly because the petitioner belonged to an intermediate caste (lower than that of her husband).

Though Prasanna lived in Kerala, he used to engage in conversations over phone very often. She always used harsh words in her attempt to try and separate the couple, the petitioner said.

Even as such a situation prevailed, her husband went on a visit to his native place. After that, he did not come back and was not reachable on his mobile phone. Once he spoke to the petitioner and informed her that he would join her soon. But to the petitioner’s shock, Prasanna sent her a divorce notice claiming that she was his power of attorney.

Since it was not known as to what happened to Jayan, the petitioner made representation to the police to take action against Prasanna and rescue her husband. But no action was taken in this regard.

Seetha Devi then approached the court, asking it to direct the police to produce Jagan and set him at liberty.

Earlier, the High Court had directed Chinnamanur Inspector P Anand, the incharge of Chinnamanur Police Station, to produce Prasanna in court as part of the case. But when it was heard on Monday, the Inspector failed to do so. Following this, the court ordered suo motu contempt proceedings against the policeman.

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