The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : SIT still waiting for documents

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 04, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

SIT still waiting for documents

By Our Special Correspondent

SALEM, MARCH 3. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the CB-CID, which investigated the Dharmapuri bus burning incident, has been camping at Dharmapuri to procure a copy of the prohibitory order promulgated under Section 30 of the Police Act, in Dharmapuri the day judgment was delivered in the Kodaikanal Pleasant Stay Hotel case in February 2000.The SIT members have filed a requisition at the Office of the Dharmapuri DSP and are trying to locate the order among the "hundreds" of files. Another team has been reportedly despatched to Chennai to file a copy application before the special court to get the copy of the judgment.

The Special Public Prosecutor, R. Srinivasan, on Monday, informed the Salem First Additional District Sessions Court, where the case has been transferred from Krishnagiri following Madras High Court orders, that the SIT was yet to give him these two documents which, according to him, were vital for framing charges.

The judge D. Krishna Raja, after passing strictures on the SIT officials, ordered them to submit these documents within 24 hours to the SPP or the court. He adjourned the case to March 7.

But later when the SIT officials explained the "technical difficulties" in obtaining the copies of these documents within 24 hours, the SPP informed the judge.Talking to The Hindu the SPP, however, said the SIT should submit these documents before March 7. "As the order was passed five years ago, it takes more time for them (officials in the DSP office) to locate a copy among the old files," claimed an SIT official.

Mr. Srinivasan pointed out that unless the documents were given on time, possibly by Friday, the court might not be able to give copies to the 31 accused.

Sources in the SIT claimed that its senior officials met in Chennai on Tuesday to discuss the developments in the case particularly after the strictures were passed on it. The SIT is yet to open an office at Salem to monitor the case. Officials are coming from Coimbatore to monitor it in the court.

Three girl students of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, were burnt alive in riots, which followed the conviction of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the Pleasant Stay Hotel case.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu