Coming down heavily on the Crime Branch probe of Haridath’s suicide, the Kerala High Court on Thursday observed that the agency is busy cooking up evidence against the two CBI inspectors whose names were mentioned in Haridath’s suicide note.
Observing that the Crime Branch is torpedoing the investigation in the Sampath case at the behest of the CBI, Justice P Bhavadasan allowed the anticipatory bail petition filed by CBI inspectors Unnikrishnan and Rajan. The court further observed that “both the organisations targeted the two officials”.
It also said that while the CBI was trying to dilute the evidence in the Sampath murder case, the Crime Branch is busy creating evidence against the petitioners. The HC, while disposing of a petition filed by Sampath’s brother Murukesan, had observed about the ‘birds of the same feather syndrome’ which now stands justified.
“The present investigation by the Crime Branch in the Haridath case seems to be equally motivated to somehow rope in the petitioners, which seems to be a retaliatory measure for having the two IPS officers arrayed as accused in the Sampath case. The conduct of CBI and Crime Branch is quite unbecoming of them and affect their credibility”, the court said. The case diary pointed out that the petitioners were not following the instructions contained in the CBI manual and were carrying on investigation at their own whims and fancies.
However the court observed that there was nothing to show that the petitioners were acting contrary to the instructions issued by the court.
The Court further observed that Haridath had at no point of time made any complaint against the petitioners regarding the manipulation in the probe to any of the superior officers.
And there was no material to show that the petitioners had any ill-motive to array various persons as accused in Sampath case.
While granting bail, the court also directed the petitioners to surrender before the magistrate court on or before June 18. The petitioners should execute bonds of `25,000 each.
If the investigating office feels that interrogation of the petitioners is necessary, the officer should apply to the court seeking permission.
The petitioners should not leave the state without the prior permission of the court, it said.