VS’ plea for copy of SIT report: Court reserves orders

Wednesday, March 28, 2012: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday reserved orders on the petition by Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan, seeking a copy of the final report filed by Special Investigation Team in the case registered against Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty with regard to the ice cream parlour sex scandal.
The petition was heard by a Division Bench, comprising acting Chief Justice Munjula Chellur and Justice V Chidambaresh.
Appearing for Achuthanandan, senior counsel Sekhar Naphade argued that the petitioner was entitled to get the copy of investigation report.
As per High Court rules, a copy of any document filed or in the custody of court could be given to petitioners. The step was necessary to avoid public suspicion in a case in which 21 important public functionaries in all walks of life were involved, he said.
Advocate General K P Dhandapani opposed the prayer, saying the final report and the case diary produced before the Court was only for its reference. The documents produced before the Court in sealed cover could not be treated as ‘filing’ and hence they could not be made available to the petitioner, he said.