The Madras High Court has transferred the investigation into an attack during an Arappor Iyakkam meeting in Tirunelveli to the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID). Justice B. Pugalendhi ordered the transfer after noting that the Palayamkottam police had not conducted a fair probe.
Background of the Incident
The meeting took place at Rose Mahal in Kokkirakulam on November 2, 2025, to address grievances regarding alleged illegal quarrying in Tirunelveli district. According to petitioners Jayaram Venkatesan, convener of Arappor Iyakkam, and senior advocate V. Suresh, about 25 to 30 advocates claiming to represent quarry operators entered the venue and created a disturbance. They alleged that one Dharmaraj was assaulted, and an advocate threw a chair that caused a head injury to Suresh.
Court Observations
The court observed that police were present during the incident but failed to prevent it. The investigating officer did not examine the organizers, participants, or the injured person. Additionally, press and media personnel were present before the commotion, and the episode was recorded. However, the court noted, “those recordings have not been collected for reasons best known to the investigating officer.”
Justice Pugalendhi remarked that “the purpose of investigation is to find out the truth. In this case, it appears that the third respondent has acted in a biased manner.” He added that the final report was filed hurriedly “to close the case with some ordinary offences.”
Legal Implications
The court emphasized that the right to a fair investigation is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. It directed the Tirunelveli Commissioner of Police to retrieve the final report from the Judicial Magistrate-I, Tirunelveli, and forward the file to CB-CID within two weeks. The Inspector General of Police, CB-CID, was instructed to entrust the probe to the CB-CID Tirunelveli inspector or another officer and file a final report within three months.
This decision underscores the judiciary's commitment to ensuring impartial investigations in cases involving public interest and allegations of misconduct.
