Madras HC grills DVAC over delay in FIR on ED’s complaint

Chennai: Madras high court on Wednesday questioned the directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption (DVAC) as to why a case has not been registered in connection with the alleged irregularities flagged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the state municipal administration department. DVAC should have either registered an FIR or moved an appeal against the order, the first bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan said. The court made the observation on a contempt of court petition filed by AIADMK MP I S Inbadurai, seeking action against DVAC for wilful disobedience of the order passed by the court dated Feb 20. On Wednesday, when the plea came up for hearing, advocate-general P S Raman submitted that a review application had been filed and that it was yet to be numbered. Senior counsel N R Elango, representing DVAC, said the agency is not frustrating on purpose, it has highest respect for the court. Recording the submissions, the bench said, either register an FIR or look for other avenues available for the agency. If FIR is not registered, it will frustrate the entire purpose. To this, the DVAC submitted that the agency has to obtain prior permission under Section 17 A of the Prevention of Corruption Act from the govt before registering the FIR. Refusing to concur, the bench asserted that there is no need to obtain a sanction as the court has directed registration of FIR. According to the petitioner, DVAC is deliberately refraining from registering an FIR due to extraneous considerations and political influence, defeating the very purpose of the order passed by the court.