HC rejects VS plea to examine progress of probe

KOCHI: Terming it premature, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday refused to accept the plea of Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan to examine the progress of the investigation in the criminal case based on K A Rauf’s disclosure in the ice cream parlour sex scandal case.A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice P R Ramachandra Menon rejected the plea to call status report from the ADGP, Special Investigating Team, in the case. Investigation is on against Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty and K A Rauf on the basis of the revelations by the latter.“The apprehensions in the recent petitions are premature. All the arguments would be considered on December 22. A time limit was given to the investigating officer. So the court can’t anticipate the way in which the investigation will proceed,” the court orally observed.Achuthanandan had alleged that the investigation has not progressed since the court decided to monitor the case on September 27. “So the status reports are necessary for effective and proper monitoring of the investigation. If the final report is filed before the next hearing date, the monitoring will be over,” the petitioner said.Meanwhile, Advocate General K P Dandapani submitted that subsequent to the last date of hearing, there is considerable progress in the investigation. “At least 22 witnesses and 33 documents have been examined since the court’s direction in September and the investigation is likely to be completed in 90 days as under taken. The police will place the entire case diary before the court on that day,” the AG submitted.Despite repeated plea by Achuthanandan’s counsel Rajinder Sachaar, the court declined the demand to call for investigation records. The court said it is understood that the investigation is moving on the right path.The court further directed the registry to list the matter on December 22. The impleading application will be heard along with the case.