CBI expresses inability to take up idol theft cases in TN

The CBI has expressed its inability to take up the probe sought by the state government into idol thefts in Tamil Nadu citing shortage of man-power, the Madras High Court was informed Tuesday.

The central agency, however, has assured all assistance to the state police in extradition of accused or coordination with the Interpol among others.

The state government had on August 2 passed an order transferring the probe into the idol theft cases to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

However, the high court had on August 7 stayed the order, while lambasting the government for the 'hurried' action when the idol theft matter was pending before it.

CBI special public prosecutor K Srinivasan Tuesday submitted a copy of the letter written by the agency to him expressing its inability to take up the probe before a bench of justices R Mahadevan and P D Audikesavalu.

The bench was hearing petitions filed by advocate 'Elephant' G Rajendran and social activist 'Traffic' Ramaswamy challenging the August 2 government order.

Responding to a query by the bench, state Advocate General Vijay Narayan submitted that the government had earlier received a communication from the CBI seeking details of the pending cases.

But no letter expressing its inability to take up the investigation had been received, he said.

However, he added he would file a counter following which the bench posted the hearing after a week.

The court had earlier set up the special bench of justices Mahadevan and Audikesavalu to deal with the matter on a batch of petitions.

It had also reinstated IG Pon Manickavel as the Idol Wing chief after he was transferred earlier, and asked him to continue to investigate the theft of various idols from temples in the state over a period of time.

However, the state government took the decision to transfer the cases to CBI, claiming that the idol wing, headed by Manickavel, was not performing satisfactorily.