The Hindu : `Police behaved in unruly manner'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 08, 2003

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National

`Police behaved in unruly manner'

By Ramya Kannan

Chennai Nov. 7. Soon after the announcement in the Assembly, a police team went to the house of the Chief of Bureau of The Hindu, V. Jayanth, and demanded to search the house without producing a warrant. They also behaved in an unruly manner. The family of Mr. Jayanth has sent a telegram to the Chief Justice of India, V.N. Khare, and to the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, Subhashan Reddy, explaining the "intimidatory tactics" adopted by the police. Copies of the telegram would also be sent to the Home Secretary, the National Human Rights Commission and the State Human Rights Commission.

Shoba Jayanth, wife of Mr. Jayanth, in a statement said:

"A little after 6-50 p.m., a police team led by one K.P.S. Devaraj, an inspector, knocked on the door and demanded to know where my husband was. When I told them that he was not at home, they tried to barge inside and search it.

"I asked Mr. Devaraj for the warrant and he responded by saying that he would show the warrant only to Jayanth. When I objected to them searching the house, he said he was there on authority and she would have to respect that. Despite my protests, they searched the house and even went to the terrace upstairs to search for him. Mr. Devaraj also said they preferred to stay and wait for him. I told him that he would come home every night only at 10-30 p.m. and that I had no clue as to his whereabouts.

"Later, an Assistant Commissioner came in and showed me the arrest warrant and this time, he requested if he could search the house. We allowed him to go around."

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