The Madras High Court on Tuesday cautioned the CB-CID that the court would have no alternative but to transfer the ‘milk adulteration’ case to the CBI if the State agency fails to file a report before the magistrate detailing its investigation to find out the involvement of Aavin officials in the alleged offence.
A Vacation Judge, P.N. Prakash, passed the order while dismissing the bail petition of Vaidyanathan, who has been arrested in the case.
“It is obvious from the statements of drivers [of milk lorries] and co-accused that they have been supplying to Aavin milk mixed with water. What is surprising is that the milk procured from the producers should have been tested for quality at the reception centre by officials of Aavin’s quality control department,” the judge observed.
“How could the officials have missed detecting adulteration? The involvement of officials in the scheme of conspiracy could not be ruled out,” he said, charging the CB-CID with hurriedly completing the investigation and filing the charge-sheet citing as accused only the owners of milk transport lorries and thieves like Suresh, drivers and bulk purchasers of milk. “Without the active connivance of people in high places this could never have happened,” the Judge said and issued the directive to the CB-CID.
