The Madras High Court has disposed of a petition filed seeking a direction to respondents to preserve the CCTV footage recorded on 06.04.2022 and 07.04.2022 at the Venkateswara Clinic, Selvam Tea Stall, One Kumaran Sweets Store, Anandham Cloth Store, Aandal Jewellers, based on the petitioner’s representation, dated 23.04.2022.
Karunanidhi R, the counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the petitioner had purchased a second hand car from a finance company. On 05.04.2022, a friend of the petitioner borrowed the petitioner’s car and returned it the same day. Again, the said friend of the petitioner has taken the car by using a fake car key, without her permission. After that, the petitioner took the car in her custody. Then the Sub Inspector of Police informed her that a friend of the petitioner had lodged a complaint against her and asked her to hand over the car key. Subsequently, she gave the car key to the said Sub Inspector of Police.
On 06.04.2022, the police officials attached to the Kellarajakularaman Police Station, forcibly took the petitioner to Sankarankovil Bus stand and kept her in their illegal custody, harassed her and asked for the car. In the said bus stand, Venkateswara Clinic and Selvam Tea Stall are situated and the buildings are installed with CCTV cameras. Hence, her presence may be recorded in the said CCTV cameras. Further, it is stated that they dropped her at Gandhi Statue, Rajapalayam, where One Kumaran Sweets Store, Anandham Cloth Store and Aandal Jewelers are situated and the buildings are also installed with CCTV cameras. Hence, the petitioner sent a representation to the respondents and requested to initiate legal action against the police officials, who harassed her. But, till now no action has been taken. Thereafter, the petitioner has requested the owners of the above said buildings, but they informed that the CCTV footage will be provided only on the request of police officials.
The petitioner further submitted that the respondents may be directed to preserve the CCTV footages, which are recorded on 06.04.2022 and 07.04.2022 at the above said premises, based on the petitioner’s representation, dated 23.04.2022. Further it is submitted that the CCTV footage is very important to prove the case and also apprehends that the footage recorded may be destroyed.
The Government Advocate appearing for the respondents also admitted that there is CCTV footage, which was recorded on 06.04.2022 and 07.04.2022.
Considering the importance of the CCTV footage to adjudicate the issue involved in this case, a single bench of Justice V. Sivagnanam directed the respondents to preserve the CCTV footage recorded on 06.04.2022 and 07.04.2022 at Venkateswara Clinic and Selvam Tea Stall, Kumaran Sweets Store, Anandham Cloth Store and Aandal Jewelers.