KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Monday granted permission to the police to proceed with investigation into the land grab cases registered against Idukki MP Joyce George and others, subject to the Single Judge order. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A M Shaffique issued the order while setting aside the interim order issued by a Single Judge, based on findings of the investigation into the case. The Bench made it clear that its order might not be interpreted to mean that the investigation, in any manner, was stayed by the court.
The court issued the order on a petition filed by Joyce George’s brother Georgy George, against the Single Bench order directing the Munnar Assist Superintendent of Police (ASP) to continue the ongoing investigation into the land grab cases. It had also directed the ASP to submit monthly status report on the probe.
Georgy submitted that the Single Bench had exceeded its jurisdiction by directing the investigating officer to conduct the investigation in a particular manner. According to the petitioner, the court had granted permission to the investigating officer to file a ‘second’ FIR, which is impermissible under the law. It made several observations which are detrimental and prejudicial to the rights of the accused, that too in their absence.