Perumbavoor rape case: Cops ignore probe summon'

Kochi: Senior police officers probing the Perumbavur rape and murder case on Wednesday ignored summons of the Kerala State Police Complaint Authority (KSPCA) and failed to appear before it on a complaint of alleged lapses in the investigation.

KSPCA chairman Justice K. Narayana Kurup, however, issued notices directing five officers including Mahipal Yadav, inspector-general of police, Ernakulam Range, to appear in person before the Authority on June 2 or face action.

The Authority had earlier sent notices to the IG, Yathish Chandra G.H., Superintendent of Police, Ernakulam Rural, DySP Perumbavur, circle inspector and sub-inspector of the Kuruppampady station, seeking their explanation on the alleged lapses in the investigation. The officials failed to respond and instead sent an objection note claiming that SPCA has no jurisdiction to interfere in the probe at this stage as the matter had been under the consideration of a court. The note, sent by the IG, too stated the KSPCA was constituted as per the Section 110 of Kerala Police Act only for examining and inquiring complaints of atrocities misconduct against police officers. However, Kurup lashed out at the officers saying the police officials had wrongly interpreted the authority of the body and that it can probe any misconduct by police including lapses committed during investigation upon receiving a formal complaint.

Meanwhile, legal circles debated on the issue on whether the Authority had the powers to call officers midway through a probe. “In my view the action of the authority can be termed as pre-mature though it has full authority to look into lapses in the investigation, especially the evidence collection in the initial stage,” said noted lawyer advocate Kaleeswaram Raj.