The Chhattisgarh High Court has disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking direction to the concerned respondent to take necessary action to ensure that the idols which have been removed illegally to restore at their place of worship from where these idols were removed.
The Counsel, appearing for the petitioners, submits that on various dates, the villagers found the idols missing from the temples of their villages. Thereafter, they went to lodge the FIR and at the time of lodging the FIR, they clearly mentioned the name of government officials involved in the said incident. Later on, it came to know that the FIR was completely manipulated by the police authorities and it was registered against the unknown persons. After registration of FIR, no further action has been taken by the respondent authorities till date with respect to the theft/disappearance of the idols from different villages of DistrictJashpur.
H.S. Ahluwaila, Deputy AG submits that so far as the investigation of the present case is concerned, a status report has been filed and the statements of villagers were recorded. He further submits that the case-diary was called by the Court for perusal of the present matter and the same was returned to the Investigating Officer and trial will conclude shortly. It is further submitted that presently Inspector General of Police, Bilaspur is in-charge of Jashpur.
Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the petition is disposed of by he Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Rajani Dubey with a direction to Deputy Superintendent of Police under the monitoring of Inspector General of Police, Bilaspur to conclude the investigation within a period of two months and submit a police report under Section 173(2) of the Cr.P.C. before the competent Court in accordance with law.
The petitioners are directed by the High Court to cooperate with the investigation.