SC transfers ADGP Jayaram probe to CB-CID, sets aside HC arrest order

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday transferred the investigation against Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) H. M. Jayaram to the CB-CID, following the Tamil Nadu government's stance that his suspension should continue until the kidnapping probe concludes.

A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan also requested the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court to reassign all cases involving Jayaram to a different bench. Additionally, the Supreme Court set aside a High Court directive instructing police to take Jayaram into custody in connection with the April 5 kidnapping case.

Earlier in the day, the top court had asked the Tamil Nadu government if it could shift the investigation to a special branch or CID. Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, representing the state, clarified that Jayaram’s suspension was not a result of the High Court’s June 16 order but also due to other allegations against him. He affirmed that suspending an officer under criminal investigation is permitted under existing rules.

The bench expressed interest in transferring the kidnapping case to a different judge, citing concerns raised during the proceedings. While Dave refrained from directly commenting on the conduct of the current judge, he noted that multiple unrelated matters had been introduced into the case.

On Wednesday, the apex court had questioned the state over Jayaram’s suspension after the High Court had ordered his arrest. The government’s counsel informed the bench that Jayaram had been taken into custody and released on Tuesday and was subsequently suspended.

The High Court had earlier directed police to take Jayaram into custody in the case involving the alleged kidnapping of a girl and a boy in April.

(inputs from PTI)