HC drops contempt case on Ex-Munnar STF Chief

Kochi, Oct 23 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today dropped contempt proceedings against Senior IAS Officer and Former Munnar Special Task Force Chief Suresh Kumar and nine others after they tendered an unconditional apology.

However, Mr Justice S Sirijagan directed Mr Kumar to pay Rs 7,500 as legal costs to the petitioners, P Dhanya and Sreekumari Kavu, who filed the contempt of court petition against them for demolishing a part of their Dhanyasree Yatri Niwas in Munnar in July this year despite a stay order.

The court also directed the nine others, including the Devikulam Sub-Collector, Tahsildar and the Village Officer to pay Rs 2,000 each to the petitioners.

The court closed the contempt case after accepting the additional affidavit filed by the Senior IAS Officer, expressing sincere regrets for the ''error'' committed by him in demolishing the resort.

While accepting the apology, the court observed though he had tendered an unconditional apology, Mr Kumar had not admitted contempt of this court. Instead, he justified his action in the affidavit.

UNI