Chargesheet Filed Against Three For Mixing Feces In Water Tank: CB-CID Informs Madras High Court

The unfortunate incident came to light in 2022 when human feces were found dumped in a water tank which was the only source of potable water for the people belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities in the area. Unaware of the mixing, the villagers (mostly belonging to scheduled caste communities) consumed the water for almost a week causing various health problems and agony.

Additional Advocate General J Ravindran made the submission before the bench of Chief Justice KR Shriram and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy. The court was hearing two pleas seeking a CBI inquiry into the matter.

In 2023, the court had also appointed a One-Man Commission of Justice M Sathyanarayanan (retired judge of Madras High Court) to look into the issue. The one-man commission had also filed an interim report regarding the tardy investigation conducted by the CBCID. Following this, the court had also censured the CBCID regarding the long delay in conducting the investigation.

On Friday, the CBCID filed an affidavit informing the court that it had filed a chargesheet against three persons in connection with the case. The affidavit suggested that the incident was a result of a personal enmity between the accused persons and the husband of the Panchayat President. 

However, Advocate GS Mani, appearing for the petitioners, argued that the CB-CID's chargesheet did not inspire confidence. He pointed out that though the case was initially registered under the SC/ST Act, the present chargesheet did not mention any offense under the Act. Mani also pointed to the interim report of the one-man commission and argued that the CB-CID seemed to have filed the chargesheet merely to close the case and had not conducted a proper investigation. He also sought time to reply to the CB-CID's affidavit. 

Accepting Mani's request, the court adjourned the case to March 27.

Case Title: K Rajkamal v. Secretary to Government and other

Case No: WP 8925 of 2023