Madras high court sets deadline for idol theft case probe

Chennai: The Madras high court has granted two weeks as a last chance to the state government to fully comply with its 21 directions given earlier relating to idol theft probe, failing which it would issue summons for the appearance of the chief secretary before the court.

When the petitions from R. Venkataraman and Elephant G.Rajendran came up for hearing on Friday before Justice R.Mahadevan, it was brought to the notice of the court that the 21 directions given by the court on July 21, 2017, have not yet been fully complied with.

Following this, the judge orally said two weeks time is granted to the state government finally to implement all the directions. Failing which, he would issue summons for the appearance of chief secretary, the judge added and posted to March 23, further hearing of the case.

The judge had on January 4 also orally warned the state government that he would order a CBI probe into the pending idol theft cases, if the authorities fail to co-operate and provide proper infrastructure to the court appointed idol wing headed by Inspector General of Police A.G.Ponn Manickavel, IPS.

The judge had on July 21, 2017, directed Pon Manickavel and his team to continue the probe, despite his transfer. The judge had also ordered that all the pending cases in various courts in the state be transferred to the additional chief judicial magistrate, Kumbakonam, for speedy disposal on a day-to day basis. 

The judge also directed the HR & CE to submit a report on the number of temples under its control and the list of archakars employed under them and assigned to each temple to Pon Manickavel, with a specific direction to the officer to prosecute the delinquent officials, if prima facie was made out.