IGP Sandhya's report 'unsatisfactory': Govt

Kochi, Sep 22 (UNI) The Kerala Government today told the High Court that it was not satisfied with the report of Inspector General of Police B Sandhya on the P J Joseph case and had therefore decided to go in for a judicial inquiry instead of a criminal investigation.

Advocate General C P Sudhakar Prasad submitted before a division bench that the report submitted by Ms Sandhya in the case was ''not fully dependable.'' He said the IGP had conducted only a preliminary inquiry and the signature on the complaint received by the Chief Minister was suspicious.

It was in these circumstances that the government had decided to conduct a judicial inquiry into the matter, he added.

The Advocate General's statement came in response to a petition seeking the registration of a criminal case against former minister P J Joseph for allegedly misbehaving with a woman aboard a private airline flight.

Directing the government to file its counter-affidavit, the bench of Chief Justice V K Bali and Justice M Ramachandran adjourned the hearing of the case to September 29.

In her petition, Ms Simi Roasabel John, Secretary of All India Mahila Congress Committee, had prayed for a direction to the government for a police investigation into the alleged incident on board a Chennai-Kochi flight on August 3.

The woman passenger had complained that Mr Joseph, who had to resign as the Public Works Minister following the incident, had tried to fondle her as the aircraft lights dimmed during take-off.

A preliminary inquiry by IGP Sandhya had found that there was some substance in the complaint and had recommended a further probe.

The government then announced its decision to hold a judicial inquiry into the case.

In her petition, Ms Rosabel John said the court should direct the state to order a police investigation into the alleged crime instead of conducting a judicial inquiry.

UNI XR ARC VD DS1626