Ramesh Jarkiholi CD Scandal : CBI Probe Not Necessary As Of Now, Says Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court on Saturday said as of today it was not necessary to transfer investigations in the alleged sex CD case involving former State minister Ramesh Jarkiholi from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj in their order said "We have perused the report submitted by Soumendu Mukherjee IPS, head of Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is investigating into three crimes, three separate reports are submitted, pointing out steps taken in investigation. After having perused the said three reports we find that as of today it is not necessary to consider the prayer for transfer of investigation."

It added "List the petitions for further hearing on May 31, when further report shall be filed by head of SIT in sealed cover. Status report tendered today shall be re-sealed and kept on record."

The direction was given during the hearing of two petitions filed by Advocate Geetha Misra and Advocate S Umesh. A prayer is made in the petition filed by Umesh seeking to transfer the investigation in the case to the CBI. Both the petitions have claimed that police officials have leaked sensitive investigation details to media personnel with an ulterior motive and contrary to the dictum of the Apex Court.

Issuing notice to the respondents on April 5, the court had directed the respondent (SIT) to place on record in sealed cover, report on investigation so far carried out. The petition filed by Misra seeks to quash the quashing the order passed by the 2nd Respondent Commissioner of Police dated 11/03/2021 forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising of Six(6) police officers to conduct investigation as the same is without application of mind and without quoting provisions of law and without there being an Government Order or Gazette Notification as the same is in gross abuse of law inasmuch as colossal waste of money from government exchequer.

During the hearing, counsel B V Shankaranarayana Rao appearing for petitioner Umesh referred to the judgments passed by the Bombay High Court on January 18, on a clutch of PILs regarding 'media trials' in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Referring to paragraphs 349 and 350 of the said judgement, he sought for regulation on content being aired by news channels.

To which the bench said "Point out any instance of violation. You will have to make out a case that in the facts of this case something has happened that you will have to demonstrate before us. Show us the statutory powers vesting in the government under which they can take action against the media."

The matter will be next heard on May 31.