The news of a 74-year old COVID patient in Chennai, who went missing after authorities picked him up from his residence for treatment and allegedly misinformed his family members, has rung a discordant note within Madras High Court.
Hearing a habeas corpus petition, filed by the son of the missing patient A Thulasidass, a two-member bench of the court blasted the delay in transfer of the case from one police station in the city to another causing delay in the investigations.
The additional public prosecutor M Prabhavathi submitted that the investigation report is to be transferred to the Flower Bazaar police station from the Kilpauk Police Station. To which the court observed, “Unfortunately, there is a delay by more than a week in transferring the case from one police station to another and the court is unable to understand the cause for the delay.”
The counsel for the petitioner Poongkhulali argued that a blame game has ensued between the police officials and the Chennai corporation staff. “The police are saying that it was the corporation staff who has to be held responsible and not the police officials,” the petitioner’s counsel submitted to the division bench.
Lawcutor 