SHRC seeks report from DGP, Idol Wing chief on arrest of ex-HR and CE official

The retired IAS official also alleged that the Idol Wing issued press statements to tarnish his reputation and for cheap publicity.

In his complaint, Veera Shanmugha Moni has said that the Idol Wing officers pulled him out of his house and threatened to create a scene if refused to come with them around 7.30 am on March 15. “They then forcibly pushed me into an autorickshaw and told me that I am arrested in connection with an idol theft case. The officers headed by inspector Senthilmaran did not even hear my request to use the restroom or brush. After 10 minutes, they shifted me to a car,” he said. He further added that the officers did not let him inform anyone in his house before the arrest despite telling them that he retired from the service prematurely to take care of his parents.

“Sometime later, one of the policemen made a phone call to my wife and informed her that I am being taken to the Idol Wing police office at Guindy. But to my surprise, they took me to Kumbakonam and produced me before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate and remanded me in judicial custody. They also arranged for wide media coverage when I was produced in the court,” he said.

He filed a bail petition on the same day and it was posted on March 19. However, the Idol Wing, headed by AG Pon Manickvel, filed a petition seeking his custody for five days on March 18 and the court granted them custody for three days. He was again produced before the Additional Magistrate in Kumbakonam on March 20 and remanded in custody for 15 days. Though the Kumbakonam court dismissed by bail plea on March 22, he was informed of it only on March 25. He then moved the Madras High Court and was granted bail on March 28, he had said in the complaint.

The officer also alleged that he was arrested on a Friday to put him in a situation without any legal assistance and press statements were issued to project him as an accused and tarnish his reputation. He has also mentioned that the Idol Wing was unable to produce any justifiable reason for the arrest while the bail petition was heard. As the officers acted on the orders of retired Inspector General of police Pon Manickavel, he sought disciplinary action against him to prevent such incidents in the future.