Top court refuses to stay CBI probe into police firing on Sterlite protesters

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court refused on Friday to stay the Madras High Court order for a CBI probe against police officials who opened fire at the anti-sterlite protestors in Tamil Nadu in May this year.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, however, issued notice to the CBI on Tamil Nadu government’s petition challenging the HC order.

“We have to see the other side,” the bench told senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi when he sought a stay.

Police firing in Tuticorin district during the anti-sterlite protests had claimed 13 lives. The incident happened on May 22 and 23. HC had ordered registration of a criminal case against senior police officials and officers of the civil administration. On August 14, the court directed the CBI to take over the probe and conclude it within four months.

HC had also quashed an order detaining six members of the “Makkal Adhikaram”, a Left outfit accused of inciting violence in the district.

Before it initiated criminal proceedings, the HC had on July 9 directed the state government to furnish a video in its possession, which allegedly showed some anti-sterlite protesters carrying petrol bombs.

A CBI probe, the court said, would instil confidence in the minds of the people.