Chennai: The Madras high court has clarified that it has not directed the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to file an FIR against DMK minister K N Nehru based on information provided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The court stated, "The order only states that an FIR must be registered regarding the alleged offence." This clarification came while hearing review applications moved by Nehru and the Tamil Nadu government.
Background of the Case
On February 20, the first bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan directed the DVAC to register an FIR based on information provided by the ED. According to the petitioner, AIADMK MP I S Inbadurai, the DVAC was deliberately refraining from registering an FIR against the municipal administration minister under extraneous considerations and political influence, thereby defeating the purpose of the court's earlier order.
Review Applications and Hearing
On Tuesday, when the pleas came up for hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Nehru, submitted that the court passed the order without providing an opportunity for Nehru to respond to the plea. He pointed out that Nehru received notice in the case only after the order was reserved. Therefore, he requested the court to stay the order directing registration of an FIR until the disposal of the review applications.
Since counsel for the petitioner, I S Inbadurai, submitted that they would not pursue the contempt petition until the review application is decided, the court adjourned the hearing to the last week of June.
Implications
The court's clarification underscores that its earlier directive was not specifically against Nehru but was a general order to register an FIR based on the ED's information. The review petitions will determine the next course of action, with the next hearing scheduled for late June.
