Madras HC agrees to hear pleas against shifting of idol cases

When the special bench comprising Justice R Mahadevan and Justice PD Audikesavulu commenced its hearing on Friday, social activist Traffic Ramaswamy made a mention about the state government handing over the court monitored idol theft cases to the CBI.

Noting that it was unwarranted as the court monitored probe was proceeding in the right direction, he said the government was clearly working on a hidden agenda of shielding certain persons and hence were keen that the court monitored probe is brought to a naught. He wanted the court to take suo motu cognisance of the transfer of cases to the CBI and stall it.

However, the bench made it clear that it would take up the issue, if a writ petition is moved in this regard.

As per submissions made in the court earlier regarding the policy decision taken to transfer all idol theft cases to CBI, the Additional Advocate General PH Arvind Pandiyan had submitted that the decision was made based on the fact that the idol wing team headed by IG Pon Manickavel was not performing satisfactorily and had not filed even a single report to the government over the progress of idol theft cases.

It may be noted that the court had thwarted the initial move of the government to transfer Pon Manickavel out of the Idol wing. The court monitored probe on idol thefts had come into being based on petitions moved by Advocate Elephant Rajendran and Rangarajan Narasimhan. While Rajendran had highlighted the lack of safety in most of the temples paving way for rampant theft, Rangarajn had cited theft of doors and idols at the Sriranganathar temple.

The bench in its earlier order had also threatened to summon the Chief Secretary if swift steps were not taken to construct strong rooms to preserve temple idols.