Spread the love
Update: Later, a press meet was held by the Mangalore Bar Association at the council office. Addressing the mediapersons, President of Mangalore Bar Association S P Chengappa said that the MBA filed a writ petition in the high court three days ago. “We came to know from some reliable sources that the inspector is related to some ministers. No one is above the law. He can take anticipatory bail. If a person who is responsible for keeping law and order will break the law, what about common people?.” He also said that Inspector Nagaraj is in Mangaluru from the past 10 years. “Every government officer gets a transfer but Nagaraj has been transferred within Mangaluru to various police stations.
When asked that if the police inspector tries to take bail, would any lawyer be ready to assist him, Chengappa replied, “We do not oppose any advocate applying for bail for Nagaraj. The police have come to know that we have filed a writ petition in the High Court. The Commissioner has taken the decision to re-instate Nagaraj in a hurry. In the writ petition, we have mentioned that the suspension order should not be revoked unless proper investigation is done. If the police get the notice from the court, the suspension order cannot be revoked.”
Mangaluru: The Mangalore Bar Association staged a protest in the court premises condemning the reinstatement of Kadri Inspector T D Nagaraj here, on August 13.
Vice president of Mangalore Bar Association, Yashodhar Karkera, addressing the protesters said that the Police Commissioner has received information about the advocates but the same commissioner is not receiving any information about the Inspector of Kadri, T D Nagaraj. “Last month, some rowdies barged into Nagaraj’s chamber and assaulted him in his chamber. Why was there no investigation about that assault. Why did the commissioner revoke the suspension without consulting anyone? We are calling ourselves intellectuals and we have four ministers in our district. Without informing anyone, how did the Commissioner revoke the suspension? Who gave him permission to revoke the suspension? Is it fair to revoke the suspension?” he questioned.
He also said that if there is no proper investigation, the association will intensify its protest all over the state.
Addressing the protesters, president of Mangalore Bar Association S P Chengappa said that the people of this district should decide whether the decision of revoking the suspension of Inspector Nagaraj legal. He further said, “On July 31, young advocate Utham Kumar Rai was assaulted by Inspector Nagaraj at the police station when he was escorting his client in a legal case. Every advocate has the right to go to the police station with their client but in the Kadri police station, our young advocate was assaulted by Inspector Nagaraj. Moreover he has insulted the entire lawyers fraternity.”
He further said, “On the same day, we had protested in front of the police station demanding the suspension of Nagaraj. In this connection, we had also filed an FIR against the Inspector and demanded for his suspension. DCP of Law and Order Shantharaj and ACP Tilakchandra had arrived to the spot and according to our request, Nagaraj was suspended. We had also demanded the police commissioner to file an FIR against Nagaraj which was filed under appropriate sections. The DCP himself had showed us the suspension order. When there is an FIR, the police cannot go out from the district. But without any preliminary investigations, Nagaraj was reinstated and his suspension order was revoked after 10 days. Is the Inspector related to any minister to have his suspension revoked? Is there any pressure on the Police Commissioner to revoke his suspension?”
He also said that inspector Nagaraj was suspended on pending enquiry and the police officers “fooled us” by showing the suspension order and agreeing to take action and investigate the case with transparency. “A false case has been registered against the innocent advocate. Now the police are trying to file a B report in this case. It is a one sided decision and the bar council condemns this act. In the Sub registrar’s office, Lokayukta office and in every police station, CCTV cameras should be installed. Corruption is rampant and there is misuse of power. There are custodial deaths in our district,” he said. He demanded for a Human Rights Court in every district. “People are afraid of the police and they are not ready to come out to fight against violence. In our district, there are four ministers; they support the corrupt and transfer transparent officers from the district.”
“We are protesting against the injustice done to the advocates by abstaining from court.” He demanded justice in this case. General Secretary Raghavendra H V, Treasurer Yatheesha, Senior advocate M P Shenoy, Stanley D’Costa, Raghavendra Rao, Utham Kumar Rai, Jagadish Shenava and others were also present.
Spread the love
