Murder, heist in Jaya’s estate: Decks cleared for further probe
Days after the AIADMK top leadership cried hoarse over the DMK Government’s decision to conduct further probe into the April 2017 heist-cummurder at former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s Kodanad Estate in the picturesque Nilgiris, an attempt to block the investigation through the judiciary failed on Friday.
Clearing decks for further investigation in the case, which also witnessed mysterious deaths of an accused and the family members of another accused, besides the suicide of a CCTV operator, the Madras High Court held that the police was entitled to conduct the probe.
“The police are fully empowered to conduct further investigation under Section 173 (8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) even after filing of charge-sheet and commencement of trial,” Justice M Nirmal Kumar ruled while dismissing a petition filed by one of the prosecution witnesses, ‘Anubhav’ Ravi, an AIADMK functionary from Coimbatore.
“A fair trial is imperative in dispensation of justice. A
duty is cast upon the court to see that there is proper, fair, impartial and an effective investigation,” the judge said.
Acknowledging that such further probe could delay the trial, the judge cited a Supreme Court ruling to hold that the ultimate object was to arrive at the truth.
“In this case, the murder had taken place in Kodanad Estate and it has been followed by series of suspicious deaths. Whatever materials are collected, it is ultimately for the court concerned to decide the acceptability or otherwise of the same. It is always better to have a fair and impartial trial to arrive at an impartial and just decision,” the court held. It added that no prejudice would be caused to the petitioner due to the further probe.
Former CM and AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami recently claimed that the fresh probe was an attempt to implicate him. He along with top leaders of the party even rushed to Raj Bhavan and submitted a plea to Governor Banwarilal Purohit expressing apprehension over the further investigation.