In a case of arrest of a sitting judicial magistrate at Coonoor on charges of raping a woman Sub-Inspector, the Madras High Court on Tuesday concluded that three police officials were liable to face contempt proceedings.
A Bench, of Justices N. Paul Vasanthakumar and M. Sathyanarayanan, opined that prima facie materials were available to proceed against them under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, and Article 215. The Bench directed the Registry to issue notice to C. Pitchai, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Udumalpet Sub Division; Suresh Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Palladam; and R. Ponni, Superintendent of Police (In-charge), Tirupur district — returnable by July 23.
The charges are that effective steps were not taken to inform the Principal District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate, Uthagamandalam, about the arrest of S. Thangaraj, Judicial Magistrate/Fast Track Court Judge, Coonoor, on June 29, 2013; and he was not allowed to contact his legal advisers.
