The high court on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to file a status report pertaining to the March 2 incident at City Civil Courts complex, by April 2.
Hearing a batch of petitions by Advocates’ Association, Bangalore, seeking action against the police personnel in connection with the incident, a division bench of Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B.V. Nagarathna directed the State to conduct a thorough investigation into the episode.
It also directed the State to not to involve any police officers, specially the officers indicted in the R.K. Dutta report, in the investigation of the cases.
“The three DCPs - Ramesh, Ravi Kanthe Gowda and Sidda Ramappa and three ACPs of Vijayanagar, Devanahalli and Banashankari - must not participate in the investigation. Those investigating must not reveal even minor details pertaining to the investigation to them and in case the State finds their involvement in the case, they must be placed under suspension,” the bench ordered. It also ordered that they must not be posted anywhere near where the 173 cases related to the incident, have been registered.
The court has also directed the respondents to file copies of video recordings referred in the R.K. Dutta report. The court also directed the State to file the video recordings made by advocates on that date.
Pointing out to video recordings made available to the court where some police personnel are seen, the court directed to initiate action against them and file a status report. It also wanted to know on whose orders the police operation was conducted on March 2.
The petitioners said that despite the Civil Court registrar’s complaint in this matter, the evidence was destroyed. “The High Court judge told the Civil Court registrar to restore photos and video evidence, but the next day the premises was cleaned up. The scene of crime should have remained undisturbed”, petitioners said.
When the bench asked the State how the premises was cleared without conducting mahazar, the AG said mahazar was conducted in the evening. To a question if there were blood marks and if the registrar was present during mahazar, the State replied in the negative.
The petitioners then pressed for a CBI probe accusing the state police of bias and said the Dutta report does not inspire confidence in them.
The A-G said that if the court finds fault in the investigation, it can issue directions and prayed to the court not to permit the petitioner to monitor the probe.