The Karnataka High Court, which resumed hearing of the plea by the State government and former DG&IGP Shankar M. Bidari as per SC order, on Tuesday made it very clear that what was extracted in the earlier order is based on the deposition of Eramma and Nagi, the two victims of STF operations.
A division bench, headed by Justice N. Kumar, which started examining the matter afresh, observed: “In the Sadashiva panel report, there is reference to the evidence of these (Eramma and Nagi) witnesses and the affidavit filed by them. The statement or affidavits are not available in the records. So it would be necessary to have either an affidavit or the statement of those ladies and then compare it with what we have extracted earlier and proceed further in the matter.” The HC, while quashing the appointment of Mr Bidari as head of the state police, had pointed out to the report highlighting the rape of women.
It had observed in the order that two particular cases – of Eramma and Nagi – holding Mr Bidari responsible for their fate (they have stated that they were raped and tortured right in front of him during the investigation) and the government compensating them with ` 2 lakh each based on the NHRC report is sufficient evidence against Mr Bidari.
The advocate appearing for senior IPS officer A.R. Infant sought time to go through the reports.
Meanwhile, Advocate General S. Vijay Shankar submitted that the statements of the two alleged victims are in possession of National Human Rights Commission and will make effort to secure it.
The matter was then adjourned to May 15, giving time to the state to secure the statements or affidavit of the two victims.
“Once the documents are produced, we will try to dispose of the matter as early as possible as indicated by the Supreme Court,” the HC bench said.
Revanna case adjourned
The HC adjourned the case of former minister H.D. Revanna seeking to quash the Lokayukta court proceedings relating to alleged illegal denotification in Banashankari 6th Phase, to Tuesday after the advocate appearing for Mr Revanna filed memo. The court had ordered a probe following a private complaint by R.S. Ravikumar of Turuvekere, alleging that Mr Revanna’s sister-in-law bought a piece of land for Rs 50 lakh even as the land was under acquisition and the then CM Dharam Singh denotified it.
Suspended jailor moves HC
The HC ordered notices to the secretary, home affairs, and ADGP-Prisons following a petition by suspended Chief Superintendent T.H. Lakshminarayana challenging his suspension. He and Assistant Superintendent Dr S. Anitha were suspended for “dereliction of duty” in releasing an undertrial inmate.
In December 2011, the country’s most wanted criminal S.M. Masood, son of Syed Mohammed Jamdar, was released from Parappana Agrahara. An RTI activist suspected foul play and sought details of the release. The state government appointed Deputy Inspector General of Police (Prisons) S. Ravi to probe the case. The report indicted Mr Lakhsminarayana and Dr Anitha, alleging that the two officers did not follow the prison manual relating to release of prisoner.