Police officials appear in court

Three police officers, including a woman SP, who are facing contempt of court proceedings in connection with the arrest of a Magistrate who allegedly cheated a woman SI after promising to marry her, today appeared in the Madras High Court.
The court had on July 8 held that prima facie a case has been made out for proceeding further in the suo motu contempt petition against the officers--R.Ponni, Superintendent of Police, Tirupur, C.Pitchai, Deputy SP, Udumalpet Sub Division, and Suresh Kumar, Deputy SP, Palladam.
They appeared before a division bench, comprising Justice N.Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice M.Sathyanarayanan, which questioned them about the charges of contempt framed against them.

The officers denied the charges of contempt.
Advocate and the President of Tamil Nadu Advocates Association S.Prabhakaran, who appeared on behalf of various association, objected to the oral reply of the contemnors and submitted they are entitled only to file an affidavit and their oral denial is against the Contempt of Courts Act.
The Division bench then posted the matter for further hearing to August 1.
S Thangaraj, judicial magistrate of a fast track court at Coonoor, was arrested on June 29 last year, a day after his marriage, for allegedly ditching the SI with whom he was having a relationship for three years. He was arrested on a complaint by the Sub-Inspector. He was later released on bail by a court in Tirupur.

The Court felt the arrest was made in violation of the Supreme Court guidelines and initiated contempt proceedings against the officials.