Plea to examine hostile witnesses quashed

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has declined to accept the plea from SP Saktivelu of Saidapet, the Investigating Officer (IO) in the Sankararaman murder case, to reexamine the hostile witnesses in the case and to take appropriate action against Ravi Subramanian, the approver, who also turned hostile.

When the investigation in the murder case had been completed and the trial was in progress, this court's interference was certainly limited, Justice P Jyothimani said on Wednesday.

It was not as if at every stage this court could interfere with the performance of any alleged irregularities that had been committed.

After the judgment was delivered, the parties were entitled to question the validity of the same. "Therefore, when such a valuable right is available to any one, I am of the opinion that the relief sought for cannot be granted,'' the judge said and dismissed the petition.

The judge, however, made it clear that the petitioner, being the IO, was entitled to be given copies of the documents and must be permitted to peruse the same before he gave his evidence in the case.

Earlier, the public prosecutor told the judge that the IO was to be examined before the Sessions Court in Puducherry on Wednesday. But the matter had been adjourned to April 5. He assured the judge that necessary steps would be taken under Sec 308 CrPC at the appropriate time.