The Kerala High Court on Tuesday roundly rapped the Director-General of Police for forwarding a complaint against Salim Raj, suspended gunman of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, to the State government instead of ordering an inquiry into it. Justice Harul-Ul-Rashid also orally wondered why the DGP and other police officers were “afraid of this police constable.’’
‘‘Why the people are afraid of this police constable?’’ the court asked.
The court orally pointed out that it had never ever seen a DGP forwarding a complaint received by him to the State government. The complaint was forwarded to the State government and the Chief Minster issued a receipt after getting the complaint. In fact, the petitioners lodged a complaint against Salim Raj in the police stations concerned and later with the DIG. The forwarding of the complaint by the DGP to the government was against provisions of the criminal procedure code, the court orally observed.
The conduct of the DGP and other police officers came under fire from the judge when petitions seeking a CBI probe into the allegations that Salim Raj was involved in land grab cases came up for hearing. Salim Raj is under suspension following allegations against him in connection with the solar scam. During the hearing of the petition, the court orally pointed out that the police constable seemed to be getting complete protection from the State government. The court said that land mafia was suspected to be operating in the State. In fact, it wondered whether democratic governance was in place.
The court also pointed out that the government should not have filed appeal against the single judge’s interim order directing the DGP to seize the telephonic conversation records, including the voice records of Salim Raj and others, in connection with the land grab cases. In fact, the government could have brought to the notice of the single judge that the interim order was passed without making the telephone service providers as respondents in the petition.
The filing of appeal by the government on the every next after the single judge’s order came and the appearing of Advocate General K.P. Dandapani on behalf of the government were severely criticised by political leaders. The hearing was adjourned to September 10.
