Madras HC dealt a significant setback to former IGP Ponn Manickavel by postponing his anticipatory bail plea in a CBI case probing him in an idol smuggling case. Meanwhile, supporters of Manickavel, including retired police officer R. Varadharajan, have rallied behind him, praising his integrity and dedication to duty.
Court Rejects Anticipatory Bail
On 28 August 2024, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court postponed the anticipatory bail petition of AG Ponn Manickavel, the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Idol Wing, in response to a case filed against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy was presiding over the case. The FIR indicates that the CBI in Delhi initiated the investigation following a Madras High Court directive for a preliminary inquiry into allegations against Manickavel. The accusations involve Manickavel allegedly falsifying documents, acting to protect idol smuggler Subhash Kapoor, and wrongfully implicating I Kader Batcha, the petitioner and former deputy superintendent of police, in a criminal case.
Manickavel’s lawyer argued that the CBI lacked the authority to pursue the complaint since the court had explicitly directed the investigation to be led by an officer no lower than the rank of DIG appointed by the CBI director. The lawyer contended that the FIR did not reference any report from the designated officer, and the FIR was registered by a superintendent of police, with an additional superintendent of police assigned to the investigation. The lawyer also claimed that the trial court must review the officer’s report to decide whether an FIR should be registered. Consequently, Manickavel’s legal team argued that the search and seizure operations at his residence were unlawful and malicious.
Ponn Manickavel’s Path Of Integrity: An Insider’s Perspective
What’s the latest case involving former IGP Manickavel? Several negative narratives have been against him since the CBI started the probe. His supporters, however, question whether there’s a witch hunt against him. The CBI appears determined to arrest Manickavel based on accusations from Kader Batcha, a former DSP previously apprehended by Manickavel for smuggling temple idols.
R. Varadharajan, a retired police officer and practising advocate, sheds light on the matter. Speaking to a YouTube channel, he references a Supreme Court ruling from the Lalit Kumar case, stipulating that any complaint should initiate an FIR, followed by an investigation. If the offence is substantiated, the case should proceed; otherwise, the FIR should be dismissed. In this context, the CBI is pursuing Kader Batcha’s complaint as per a Madras High Court directive. Therefore, the probe is not unusual; it follows a standard procedure.
Varadharajan describes Ponn Manickavel as a straightforward and stringent officer known for his strict adherence to duty. Although this earned him a negative reputation within the department, the public held him in high regard. Varadharajan reminisces about the MGR-era system, which required officers to conduct grievance camps. While this system faded after MGR’s death, Manickavel was the only officer who continued this practice until retirement.
Varadharajan also recounted an incident involving Manickavel’s integrity. A senior officer was accused of illegally allocating government plots to IPS and IAS officers. This senior officer took land from Manapakkam, and when a landowner resisted selling the land under duress, the senior officer instructed his subordinates to forcibly take the landowner to Nandabakkam station and have him beaten up. The next day, the landowner died by suicide, leaving a letter naming the senior officer as responsible for his death.
As the Superintendent of Police, Manickavel visited the scene, discovered the letter, and ordered the senior officer arrested. Varadharajan noted that this led to a conflict, with the senior officer appealing to the DGP for intervention. Despite the DGP’s pleas, Manickavel firmly refused to intervene, standing steadfastly with the principles of justice and the public interest.
Retired police officer R. Varadharajan stated that Manickavel was assigned to the Idol Wing, a department often given to suspended or discredited officers, or those who requested it due to personal issues. However, former CM J. Jayalalitha allocated the position to Manickavel at the request of a senior officer. Despite the challenging circumstances, Manickavel tackled cases with determination, leading to conflicts with businessmen, politicians, and the DGP. Varadharajan questioned, “Is this the fate of an honest officer?”
He then recounted Manickavel’s actions in the Idol Wing. When an idol went missing from the Kapaleeshwarar temple, there was news that it was in someone’s home before the Kumbhabishekam. Manickavel, despite being a police officer and the businessman being wealthy and a devoted follower, pursued the case diligently.
Varadharajan said, “An idol was lost in Kabaleeshwarar temple. Immediately, if you ask what did he do? There was news that before the Kumbhabisekam, the idol was in someone’s home. Manickavel, a police officer, and the someone was very wealthy. However, the wealthy man was also a good man and devout. But you should not take the idol from the temple and keep it in your house it is against the law, and we can arrest the person immediately, so when the idol is lost, the alleged should be responsible, right? Manickavel went to arrest him. Edappadi Palaniswami was supporting the wealthy man and asked Manickavel not to arrest the wealthy man when he was the chief minister. The DGP also told him not to arrest, but Manickavel didn’t listen. Now what? He developed hostility with the wealthy people, the DGP, and there were two smugglers involved called Subash Chandra Kapoor and Deenadayalan.” He also arrested a woman Joint Commissioner from the HR&CE department, accusing her of being involved and responsible for the issue.
Former cop Varadharajan also emphasized Ponn Manickavel’s remarkable dedication to his duties. Despite being denied a vehicle by higher officers, Manickavel took an auto-rickshaw to seize a smuggled idol while still on duty. Varadharajan asserts that Manickavel was well-regarded during Jayalalitha’s tenure due to his straightforwardness. He recounts an incident where, at 2 AM, Manickavel stopped an ADMK party member for speeding. The party member flaunted his political connections and drove off, but the next day, Jayalalitha suspended the functionary.
In another incident, Varadharajan recalled how Ponn Manickavel intervened when he learned from ADMK’s Sasikala that a Sub-Inspector had kidnapped someone over a financial dispute. Manickavel, acting undercover, apprehended the SI in his own quarters and initiated a case against him. He also physically assaulted the SI with a baton in the office, which led to criticism and a tarnished reputation within the police force. Varadharajan recalls that while Manickavel faced opposition and rumors, this incident highlighted his commitment to honesty, revealing the SI’s misconduct.
Varadharajan further noted that Manickavel’s dedication to duty transcended religious boundaries. He recounted an incident where a Muslim officer sought to marry another woman according to Islamic law, but the officer’s wife requested assistance. Manickavel intervened, threatening the officer with dismissal based on moral grounds, and successfully reunited the family by prioritizing ethics over strict legalities.
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