CBI will be made party, Director General of Prosecution must explain lapse in Munnar encroachment cases: High Court

KOCHI: The High Court asked the Director General of Prosecution (DGP) to appear and explain how the government made a lapse in the Munnar encroachment cases. A division bench comprising Justice A Muhammad Mushtaq and Justice S Manu said that it will decide after hearing the DGP whether to hand over the investigation to the CBI. Although the inquiry is not handed over now, CBI will be made a party in the case.

The court said that it wants to know if a case has been registered against MI Ravindran, the former additional tehsildar who made fake title deeds in Munnar. Who has been entrusted with the investigation, whether Ravindran is getting a pension and whether disciplinary action has been taken, should also be informed.
The court said that it will consider voluntarily examining the cases on encroachment decided by the trial courts. "The accused in 42 cases were acquitted. What kind of investigation was done?," the High Court asked. "Many were only charged with criminal conspiracy. No serious investigation has been conducted. Ravindran gave 545 fake title deeds. Ravindran cannot do it alone, there are others behind it."

The court said that the cases will be examined separately. Amicus curiae Ranjit Thampan said that the truth will come out only if the investigation is conducted under the supervision of the court. Another amicus curiae Harish Vasudevan also said that Ravindran is a land consultant. One Earth One Life's plea to vacate the encroachment in Munnar is pending in the court.