The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Tamil Nadu government to clarify whether the investigation into the alleged kidnapping case involving Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) H.M. Jayaram (1996-batch IPS officer) could be transferred to either the Crime Investigation Department (CID) or the Special Branch. The apex court’s query comes amid concerns surrounding the fairness of the ongoing probe and the state’s move to keep the senior officer under suspension.
A bench comprising Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan raised the issue after the state government, represented by senior advocate Mr. Siddharth Dave, asserted that Mr. Jayaram’s suspension was not solely based on the June 16 directive of the Madras High Court but was also linked to other pending allegations. Mr. Dave stated that it is well within the rules to suspend an officer under investigation in a criminal matter.
The Supreme Court also indicated its intention to consider transferring the case to another judge of the Madras High Court, noting concerns about how the current judge is handling related matters. Mr. Dave refrained from making direct remarks about the judge but suggested that multiple unrelated cases were being brought under the same matter.
The court directed Mr. Dave to seek instructions from the Tamil Nadu government on whether the investigation can be handed over to the CID or Special Branch, and report back by the end of the day.
The case involves a teenage girl who allegedly eloped with a boy on April 5. The Madras High Court had earlier ordered the arrest of Mr. Jayaram for his alleged role in abetting the abduction. On Tuesday, the officer was reportedly taken into custody and released around 5 p.m., following which he was suspended by the state government.
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