HC takes serious note of DGP's action

Hyderabad, June 13 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh High Court today took serious note of the unilateral action of Director General of Police (DGP) Swaranjeet Sen to shift the investigation to locate Md Feroz Khan, witness in the Begumpet Task Force office blast case, missing since March 21, to the CBCID.

A Division Bench of Mr Justice Bilal Nazki wondered if the DGP's action constituted grave interference with the adjudicatory process and if it amounted to interference with the proceedings of the court, making it vulnerable for action under the Contempt of Courts act.

The bench adjourned the matter to June 15, directing counsel C Padmanabha Reddy to apprise the court whether DGP's action to shift the probe to the CID amounted to contempt of court and whether he could be prosecuted for it. The court also directed the state Advocate General to appear before it on that day.

Earlier, under High Court directions, Mr Sen had constituted a three member committee under Md Iqbal to find the whereabouts of Feroz Khan. The DGP, by his orders on June 9, 2006, directed the Additional DGP, CID to constitute a team headed by an officer of the rank of SP to trace and produce him before the court.

Earlier, the court on an application by Khan's brother appointed a special team under Mr Iqbal. The matter was listed before the court today to know whether the case could be entrusted to CBI in view of helplessness expressed by the special team led by Iqbal to find Khan.

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