The High Court has criticised the police for the delay in filing a First Information Report against Major Archbishop George Alencherry and three others in the land scam of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese.
It was while considering a contempt of court petition moved by Martin Payyappally, that the court raised the criticism. Though the police committed contempt of court by delaying the FIR, the court said it was dropping the proceedings as a case was registered by the police subsequently.
The court had ordered the police to book a case against the Cardinal on March 6. The police submitted that it got the copy of the order on March 8 and the case was registered on March 12. The State submitted that the court order was implemented and hence the contempt of court would not arise.
The court noted that though the delay amounted to contempt of court, it was not initiating the proceedings considering the facts of the case and the registration of the FIR.
