Entrust ACP to investigate BJP office attack case: HC

Chennai, Mar 14 (UNI) The Madras High Court today directed the Chennai city police Commissioner to entrust the investigation of the BJP office attack case to Assistant Commisioner of Police (ACP), who was not a part of the team headed by Joint Commissioner of Police Mr Durairaj, for an unbiased and impartial investigation.

While allowing a writ petition filed by the state unit of BJP, represented by its Secretary C S C Vadivelu, Justice M Jeyapaul said the ACP nominated by the Commissioner should thoroughly investigate the case and file the final report within two months.

The BJP Secretary submitted in his petition that his party office was attacked by around 50 DMK party men, some of them with lethal weapons, in September 2007 and he lodged a complaint with T Nagar police.

The petitioner further said, Mr Durairaj and Deputy Commissioner of police Mrs Laxmi, who were present in front of the BJP office at the time of the attack, permitted some DMK cadres to go over to the office. They pelted stones, bricks and damaged glass panes of the office and the two wheelers parked on the premises were damaged.

The Joint Commissioner, who was present at the spot, proclaimed that he would not describe the incident as an attack.

The vandalism was led by the State Minister Parithi Ilamvazhuthi, Chennai Mayor Subramanian and South Chennai DMK Secretary J Anbalagan.

The petitioner also contended that not even a single person referred in the complaint was arrested and their names were not found in the FIR.

Hence he sought transfer of investigation.

In the order to transfer the investigation the Judge observed that the allegation was that the cadres of the ruling party committed vandalism causing damage to the properties and persons who were found in the BJP office and the court cannot ignore the fact that a team headed by the Joint Commissioner of Police Durairaj was on bandobust duty.

Hence, no police officer serving in the said team could be entrusted with the investigation of the case.

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