Crl.O.P.No.30838 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 24.01.2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.VELMURUGAN Crl.O.P.No.30838 of 2024 Lourdu Mary Fathima ... Petitioner Vs. State Represented by Inspector of Police, Veeraganur Police Station, Salem - 636 116, Crime No.144 of 2019. ... Respondent Prayer: Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of BNSS, 2023, to direct the respondent-Police to investigate the above case in Crime No.144 of 2019 and to file a final report within a stipulated time frame. For Petitioner : Mr.K.R.Samratt For Respondent : Mr.S.Sugendran Additional Public Prosecutor O R D E R This Criminal Original Petition is filed to direct the respondent- Police to investigate the above case in Crime No.144 of 2019 and to file a final report within a stipulated time frame. 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.30838 of 2024 2. Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record. 3. It is seen from the records that on the complaint given by the petitioner herein, the respondent-Police registered the F.I.R in Crime No.144 of 2019 on 22.10.2019 against the accused persons for the offences punishable under Sections 294(b), 323, 448 and 506(i) IPC and Section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 2002 and statement of witnesses were also recorded on the same day itself. However, the respondent-Police has not filed the Final Report till date. 4. The main contention of the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent-Police is that due to Covid-19 pandemic situation, the respondent police were not in a position to conduct the investigation and to file the final report. He further submitted that as per the directions of this Court dated 07.01.2025, the Station House Officers, who were incharge of the respondent-Police Station during the relevant period from 2019 to till date have appeared before this Court and now the respondent-Police have filed the final report before Judicial Magistrate, Attur and the same was taken on file in C.C.No.38 of 2025 on 21.01.2025. 5. Recording the said submission made by the learned Additional 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.30838 of 2024 Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent-Police, this Criminal Original Petition is disposed of. 6. However, inaction of the Station House Officers, who are all incharge of the respondent-Police Station during the relevant period from 2019 to till date is highly condemnable. Therefore, the Inspector General of Police, Salem District is directed to take departmental action against all those Investigating Officers, who are in-charge of the said case and who have not filed the final report within a reasonable time and file a action taken report before this Court on 28.02.2025. 7. List the matter ''for filing action taken report'' on 28.02.2025. 24.01.2025 Index : Yes/No Neutral Citation Case : Yes/No Speaking Order : Yes/No ms 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.30838 of 2024 To 1. The Judicial Magistrate, Attur. 2. The Inspector of Police, Veeraganur Police Station, Salem - 636 116. 3. The Inspector General of Police, Salem District. 4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras. 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.30838 of 2024 P.VELMURUGAN, J ms Crl.O.P.No.30838 of 2024 24.01.2025 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis