Supreme Court Shocked Over Action Against Senior IPS Officer in Tamil Nadu Abduction Case

In a dramatic turn of events, the Supreme Court of India expressed shock on Wednesday over the Madras High Court's recent action against a senior police officer, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) HM Jayaram. The case is linked to the alleged abduction of a teenage boy related to an inter-caste marriage in Tamil Nadu.

What Happened?

The case started when the elder brother of the abducted boy — a 23-year-old man — married a 21-year-old woman from Theni. Her family, upset with the inter-caste union, allegedly opposed the marriage. Following this, the boy’s mother filed a police complaint saying her younger son had been abducted.

The case became more serious when the investigation revealed possible involvement of senior figures, including Puratchi Bharatham Party MLA Poovai M Jagan Moorthy and ADGP Jayaram. Reports say that Jayaram was linked through a chain of events that began when the girl’s father contacted Maheshwari, a dismissed woman police constable, for help. Maheshwari allegedly took the matter to Jayaram, who then got MLA Moorthy involved.

According to the State, on June 15, when police tried to arrest Moorthy, around 2,000 party supporters gathered to block them. Moorthy escaped, and the Madras High Court, in a hearing on June 16, ordered both the MLA and ADGP Jayaram to appear in court.

Arrest and Suspension:

While Moorthy was not arrested after he appeared in court, the High Court ordered action against ADGP Jayaram. Following this, Jayaram was taken into custody. His lawyer later told the Supreme Court that he was formally arrested. However, the State claimed he was not arrested but had merely joined the investigation.

What has shocked the Supreme Court even more is that Jayaram was suspended from his post. Though he was released on Tuesday, his suspension remains.

Supreme Court’s Response

A bench of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manmohan strongly criticised the State’s handling of the matter. “Where is the question of suspending him if he has joined the investigation?” the Court asked. The justices said the action was “very demoralising,” especially considering Jayaram’s senior position in the police force.

The Court has now asked the State government to reconsider and provide instructions regarding the suspension. The matter is set to be heard again on Thursday.

Confessions and Evidence

The case also involves ₹7.5 lakh in cash, which was recovered by the police. Some of the people arrested, including a lawyer close to MLA Moorthy and Maheshwari, allegedly confessed to their roles in the abduction. One shocking detail is that the teenage boy was reportedly dropped off at a bus stand using ADGP Jayaram’s official vehicle, driven by a constable to avoid attention.

Conclusion:-

As the case unfolds, the Supreme Court has taken a strong stand against what it sees as questionable handling of the situation by the State and the High Court. With serious allegations against a senior police officer and an MLA, this case raises important questions about power, influence, and justice in sensitive social matters like inter-caste marriages.