Clarification sought on official’s hasty arrest

The Special Division Bench comprising Justice R Mahadevan and Justice PD Audikesavalu constituted to deal with the idol theft cases, on seeking an answer for the query posted the bail plea moved by Kavita for further hearing to Friday.

The petitioner was arrested by the inspector of police, Sivakanchi police station of Kancheepuram on a complaint made by Annamalai regarding the misappropriation of gold in the making of two new Panchaloha idols for Sri Ekambaranathat temple in Kancheepuram.

Earlier, the petitioner’s counsel contended that the FIR in the said case was filed in 2017 in which the petitioner was not an accused. The subsequent FIR’s filed in 2018 were already stayed by the High Court on July 23 and 24. Moreover, in the above case the main accused was granted bail and that the police have arrested Kavita based on an alleged statement given by a co-accused.

Quoting a Supreme Court judgement, the counsel said when nothing was mentioned about the petitioner in the case and the subsequent FIR’s stayed by the court, the police were wrong in arresting a person on the FIR which was registered a year ago.

The counsel further submitted that the petitioner is diabetic and had recently under gone cataract operation, which requires administering eye drops every two hours and hence she may be sent to a private hospital on her own cost.

But the bench directed the public prosecutor Ravichandran to immediately instruct the authorities concerned to provide apt medical assistance to the accused.

Meanwhile, Muthiah Sthapathi who is alleged to be under house arrest for the past 90 days moved a modification petition before the same bench. The Madurai bench had granted bail to Muthiah Sthapathi on the condition that he deposits Rs 7 lakh and that he should not contact any person without the leave of the court.

The council submitted that though Muthiah is in his house it is like a jail to him as he is unable to talk to his own people and sought the bench to modify both the conditions. The plea is scheduled to be taken on Friday.