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CBI may investigate fake FIR case

Special Correspondent

High Court will pass orders today

CHENNAI: Indicating that it might order a CBI probe into the fake FIR and the multi-crore bogus insurance claims cases, the Madras High Court has said it will pass orders on writ petitions seeking a fair investigation into the matter on Wednesday.

The petitions include those seeking action against police officers who placed orders for FIR forms with private printers and those favouring a CBI probe into the bogus insurance claims cases on the ground that the CB-CID investigation into the matter had not progressed satisfactorily.

The First Bench, hearing the cases together, on Tuesday observed that the racket needed a thorough investigation as it might have inter-State repercussions.

Expressing shock at the treatment meted out to a social worker who refused to support the police in making false insurance claims, Chief Justice A.P. Shah said: "I am wondering where is the rule of law. A person who gives information is prosecuted. What investigation did the police do in the case? There is no doubt the investigation should be done by an independent agency. We propose to give the fraud of such nature to the CBI."

A.L. Somayaji, Additional Advocate-General, cautioning the court against forming an adverse opinion against the entire police department, said action had been taken in a majority of the cases. He said nearly 250 policemen were found to have been involved in the scam. He offered to assign an Additional Director-General level police officer to head the investigation team. The Chief Secretary and the Home Secretary could monitor the probe. Mr. Somayaji also submitted that the State was not averse to an investigation headed by a retired Judge of the High Court. Earlier, counsel for the insurance companies, said cases had been registered against public servants without even obtaining the statutory sanction.

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