Police plea for seeking custody of IAS officer dismissed

Madras High court today dismissed a petition filed by police seeking custody of IPS officer R V Varunkumar, an accused in a dowry harassment case.
Dismissing the petition, Justice P Devadass said Varunkumar surrendered before a metropolitan magistrate at Saidapet on April 28 and police filed the petition seeking his custody the same day. This was dismissed by the magistrate.
The Judge said "thereafter, a revision was filed before this court on April 30. Now, the 15-days initial period under section 167 (2) CrPC is already over. In these circumstances, the question of granting police custody will not arise."
Priyadarshini and Varunkumar became friends while preparing for civil services exams in 2007. She had alleged that the officer refused to marry her after having a relationship with her for two years.

Varunkumar and his parents demanded a hefty sum and other articles as dowry, she alleged.
The central crime branch police in Chennai registered a case against Varunkumar, who was serving as additional SP at Aruppukottai, for committing offences under various IPC sections and provisions of Tamil Nadu Women Prevention of Harassment Act and IT Act. He has since been suspended.