COURT ON ITS OWN MOTIONS: SUO MOTU PROCEEDINGS INITIATED ALLEGATION ON HARASSMENT FACED BY A FAMILY THAT APPEARED IN NEWSPAPER REPORT DATED 13.10.2021. Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The learned Amicus Curiae - Sri.S.Rajeev, suggested that the Director of Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) be brought on record as an additional respondent because, prima facie, going by the materials on record, the provisions of Sec. 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act is attracted. He submitted that since the Commissioner of Police, Kochi, has, in his Statement dtd. 1/12/2021, agreed to compensate the expenses incurred by the victim's family and since he has said that there is a Statement of the mother of the victim about the demand of Rs.5,00,000.00 by the Assistant Sub Inspector of Police, it is necessary that an enquiry into this be conducted by the Department of Vigilance.

(2.) I must say that I find great force in the afore submissions and suggestions made by the learned Amicus Curiae; particularly because they are not opposed by Sri.P.Narayanan learned Additional Public Prosecutor.

(3.) I, therefore, suo motu implead 'the Director of Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau, Vigilance Directorate, Thiruvananthapuram', as an additional respondent and I record that Sri.P.Narayanan -learned Additional Public Prosecutor, has taken notice on his behalf.