Kidnapping case: SC grills TN govt over senior cop's suspension post HC directive

A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan was informed by the state government’s counsel that the officer was taken into custody and released on Tuesday at around 5 pm.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the Tamil Nadu government over suspension of ADGP H M Jayaram, who was directed by the high court to be taken into custody in a kidnapping case, saying such an action was "shocking and demoralising."

A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan asked the state government as where was the need for such an action.

The state government’s counsel said that the officer was taken into custody and released on Tuesday at 5 pm.

Jayaram’s counsel said that he was released by the police but the government has placed him under suspension.

“He is a senior police officer. Where was the requirement for you to put him under suspension? These kinds of orders are shocking and demoralising,” the bench said.

The court asked the state government counsel to seek instruction and apprise the court by Thursday on revoking his suspension.

Jayaram has approached the court against the Madras HC order of June 16 asking the police to secure him.

On Tuesday, the top court agreed to his plea against his arrest order by the Madras HC in a kidnapping case. The police officer's lawyer contended that the Madras High Court's order of arrest was "based on a confessional statement".

His plea contended the high court on June 16 ordered his arrest without "assigning any detailed reasons" and on the purported statements of two accused persons.

The Madras High Court issued the order, while hearing an anticipatory bail application filed by MLA M Jagan Moorthy, who apprehended arrest in the case. The MLA was elected from Kilvaithinankuppam. He is the founder of Puthia Bharatham Katchi. He contested the election in the AIADMK alliance.

The court asked him why he was running away from police and directed him to join the investigation.

While hearing the matter, the court summoned Moorthy and ADGP Jayaram, whose official car was allegedly used for kidnapping, to appear before it in the afternoon.

The court said since two of the accused have given a confession statement against the ADGP, action should be taken against him in the manner known to law.