Any failure in uploading docus may lead to CBCId probe on officer: Madras HC
Chennai: Noticing the failure of the police in uploading the documents relating to Motor Accident Claims cases in the CCTNS online platform, the Madras high court has observed that if there is any failure in future, the court will have no option but to direct the CBCID to investigate into the allegation and prosecute the police officer and others who were in league with him.
Passing interim orders in the case relating to bogus motor accident claims, Justice P.N.Prakash said Vijayaraghavan, counsel for Cholamandalam Insurance company, invited the attention of this court with regard to around 100 cases in which MCOP claims have been filed with hard copies of documents prior to them being uploaded in the CCTNS platform. This is undoubtedly in clear violation of the circulars issued by the DGP and Additional Commissioner of police directing the investigating officers to upload the relevant documents in the CCTNS platform. “It is obvious to this court that the police officers are in league with some vested interest and are handing over hard copies of documents to a chosen few, for them to capture the victims and file MCOPs. In the opinion of this court, the act of such investigating officers, undoubtedly, will fall within the ambit of “misconduct” as defined under the Prevention of Corruption Act, for which, Police investigation can be ordered”, the judge added.
The judge said however, on instruction Government advocate P.Kritika Kamal pleaded that ulterior motives cannot be attributed to all the investigating officers and most of them, out of sheer force of habit, must have parted company of the documents to the victims before uploading them in the CCTNS platform. She also submitted that there were some technical snags in the network which were a stumbling block for uploading the documents in the CCTNS platform. She also submitted that pursuant to the orders of the court , R.Sudhakar, Joint commissioner of Police has held a conference of investigating officers and has exhorted them to follow the directions of the Supreme court and this court and the orders of DGP and ACOP and has warned them all of serious action. On account of his intervention, in the last few days, the officers have uploaded documents in the CCTNS platform in around 80 cases.
“This court is constrained to observe, at this juncture, that if this court stumbles upon any deviation in the future, this court will have no option but to direct the CBCID to investigate into the allegations and prosecute the police officer and others who were in league with him”, the judge added.
The judge also granted time till January 15, 2019 to the state government to scrutinize the Delhi rules and in consultation with the State Crime Records Bureau, bring forth necessary amendment to the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Tribunal Rules to make the CCTNS platform workable.
