The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : 104 case diary files on grave crimes missing in Madurai police stations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 26, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

104 case diary files on grave crimes missing in Madurai police stations

By S. Vijay Kumar

MADURAI, MAY 25. As many as 104 case diary (CD) files on grave offences are "missing" from 18 police stations in Madurai city.

The files, pertaining mostly to attempts to murder, robbery and Explosives Act cases, were not available when Police Commissioner Abhash Kumar made a surprise check last week. "Some cases date back to early 1990s and no action could be pursued, including filing of charge sheets, since the files are missing. It is not clear how the files on such grave offences could vanish. We have summoned for enquiry the investigation officers, some of whom are now in the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police," Mr. Abash Kumar told The Hindu here today.

In the Tallakulam station alone, some 40 CD files were found missing. A written explanation has been sought from the officers (who investigated the cases) why they did not hand over the files to successors on their transfer/retirement. It is suspected that some police officials might have either "destroyed" or "misplaced" case particulars to favour the accused.

However, it is intriguing how the complainants tolerated undue delay in pursuing the cases, say police officials. "The legal proceedings came to a standstill since the police did not file the charge sheet. It was almost like dropping action at one's own behest, deviating from standard guidelines," Mr. Abhash Kumar said. In cases in which the CD files could not be traced, fresh papers were being prepared.

"We will ensure that all these cases are tried in accordance with the law. In cases in which the accused went scot-free, arrests would be made. A time frame has been set to revive court proceedings."

The Commissioner has ordered an enquiry into how the files went "missing." "Where it comes to light that the CD files were intentionally concealed or destroyed, stringent action would be initiated against those responsible for it." Some cases were more than a decade old, he said.

Mr. Abhash Kumar, who took over early this month, is conducting a review of hurt/murder cases, which ended up in the acquittal of the accused. "We want to find out what went wrong and where. If there are inadequacies on the part of investigation officers in presenting evidence or other facts, we can rectify them in future."

The Commissonerate has also ordered the City Crime Branch, which is handling sensitive and specialised cases mostly referred by courts, to expedite pending investigation.

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