The Madras High Court recently transferred the investigation into the disappearance of a volunteer from Jaggi Vasudev's Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore to CB-CID citing prolonged police inaction [Thirumalai Vs SP, Coimbatore].
Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan passed the order on October 27 after noting that the police had failed to complete the investigation despite an earlier direction from the High Court and a subsequent assurance to file a final report within three months.
"Even till today, the second respondent did not even proceed with the investigation and did not take steps to complete the investigation in Crime No.26 of 2023," the Court observed.
The case concerns the disappearance of Ganesan, who was associated with the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore.
According to earlier reports, Ganesan, then aged 46, had gone missing from the Centre in March 2023. His brother Thirumalai approached the Centre after being unable to contact him for several days.
The Centre reportedly informed him that Ganesan, who worked at the ashram, had not reported for duty for two days.
A missing person complaint was subsequently registered at the Alandurai Police Station in Coimbatore.
Thirumalai later approached the High Court through a habeas corpus petition, alleging that the police had failed to trace his brother.
During the proceedings in March 2024, the Tamil Nadu Police informed the High Court that six people had gone missing from the Isha Foundation since 2016. The police also submitted that an investigation into the disappearances was underway.
In April 2024, the police informed a Division Bench comprising Justices MS Ramesh and Sunder Mohan that they had questioned 36 persons, including employees and volunteers associated with the Centre.
The police sought additional time to submit a status report.
Thirumalai subsequently moved the present petition seeking transfer of the investigation to the CB-CID.
During the proceedings, the police filed a status report on June 9 this year, undertaking to complete the investigation and file a final report within three months.
The Court noted that the police had failed to honour the undertaking.
"Therefore, this Court is inclined to transfer the investigation in Crime No.26 of 2023 from the file of the second respondent to CBCID," Justice Ilanthiraiyan said.
The Court accordingly withdrew the investigation from the Alandurai Police Station and transferred it to the CB-CID, Coimbatore.
It directed the CB-CID to conduct a proper and fair investigation and file a final report within 12 weeks of receiving the complete case diary.
The petition was disposed off with these directions.
Advocate SKD Rajasekar represented the petitioner.
Additional Public Prosecutor A Amarnath appeared for the police authorities.
[Read Judgment]