HC issues statutory notice to Police Commissioner, 2 cops

The Madras High Court today ordered issue of statutory notice to the City Police Commissioner and two police officials directing them to appear in person in a contempt petition filed by a dowry case victim.
The Madurai Bench of the High Court headed by Justice Aruna Jagadeesan issued the notice in response to the contempt petition filed by one S Arjun in Vellore.
The petitioner submitted that the All Women Police Station registered a case against him on a complaint given by his wife Shailaja.
The court had granted him interim bail till February 22 as he was in the US and had to get sanction for leave and also for his H1B visa processing. However, when he arrived at Bangalore airport on February 9, after getting leave, he was handed over to Madurai Police and was arrested the next day and passport seized.

After his counsel reported the matter to the High Court, the court directed the Judicial Registrar to inform police about the order passed by the court. The Registrar and the government advocate S Prabha also informed police not to arrest him in view of the court order.
But the all-women police station Inspector Hema Mala and Sub-Inspector Geetha Ramani arrested him and produced him before the Additional Mahila court. But grant of remand was objected to on being informed about the court order. Then the court released him on bail.
The Inspector and the SI did not produce his original passport also. Though the court's order was conveyed to the officials, they had deliberately disobyed the court order and arrested him, the petitioner said.

The disobedience of the court order struck at the very root of rule of law on which the judicial system rested. Hence, the court should punish the Commissioner, Inspector and the SI who commmited contempt of court by their wilful disobedience of court order, the petitioner submitted.