Retired Justice CS Karnan uploaded offensive videos even after Court orders to block them: Police tells Madras High Court

Retired judge, Justice CS Karnan did not stop uploading offensive videos, at least for a while, despite court orders directing that such videos by him be blocked on social media, the Chennai Police told the Madras High Court on Monday. .The submission was made in a counter-affidavit filed by the Commissioner of Police, in response to the petition filed by the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry seeking criminal action against the former High Court judge for derogatory posts on social media against women and the judiciary..In the course of submissions made to apprise the Court of its progress in investigating the complaints filed against CS Karnan, the police stated the following:."Retired Justice CS Karnan was continuously uploading many videos with the most disgusting content in Youtube channel namely Anti Corruption Dynamic Party ACDP even after the order passed by this Hon’ble High Court.".At least three FIRs have been registered now, going by the Police Commissioner's affidavit. .Apart from an FIR registered on the basis of a complaint filed by an advocate, Devika, the police has informed that FIRs were also registered last week on the basis of complaints given by the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and the Delhi Tamil Advocate Association..Two rounds of interrogation have been conducted with retired Justice CS Karnan and his associate, M Dhanasekaran, it was further submitted. During one interrogation, the police is stated to have received an assurance from Justice Karnan that he would not publish more offensive videos. .The affidavit has detailed the following in terms of the progress made in the investigation:.The investigation officer has examined five witnesses in the first complaint, including the complainant (advocate Devika) and senior woman advocates.15 abusive videos were identified on YouTube initially, uploaded by M Dhanasekaran, Karnan's associate and Secretary of his party, the Anti Corruption Dynamic Party. Karnan and Dhanasekaran are said to have conspired with each other to commit the illegal acts.On October 26 and November 6, the police sent requisitions to YouTube asking them to delete the videos.Thereafter, 6 more videos were found uploaded on more channels - the Ambedkar Army ACDP and Justice CS Karnan. A requisition was sent to take those down on November 16. Additional sections of the Information Technology Act, the Women Harassment Act and the Indecent Representation of Women Act have been invoked against Karnan, in addition to offences under the IPCOn November 24, a criminal case was registered on the complaint of the Delhi Tamil Advocate Association. On November 25, the complaint given by the Tamil Nadu Bar Council earlier was also registered.On November 21, a requisition was sent to YouTube to delete offensive videos and block channels. All offensive videos were deleted subsequently and the hosting channel blocked.Notice was served in person to Justice CS Karnan and Dr M Dhanasekaran for appearance before the Police on November 26. Both appeared before the investigation officer, accordingly. During interrogation, they admitted to the commission of the offence. Further, the investigation officer obtained an assurance from the judge that he would not publish further videos.A notice had also been served under Section 41A, CrPC on Justice Karnan and Dhanasekaran asking them to appear for further interrogation on November 28.During the investigation, some abusive writings and documents were also seized from an apartment belonging to Justice Karnan. The cell phone and Airtel sim card used to record and upload abusive videos were also seized from Karnan’s present residence.21 URLs on one YouTube channel ‘Dr M Dhanasekaran” containing abusive videos have been deleted and the channel blocked. 4 URLs on the channel “Ambedkar Army ACDP YouTube” have been deleted. 6 URLs on a third channel, “Anti- Corruption Dynamic Party ACDP” and 1 more on the “Justice CS Karnan” channel have been deleted.Further, one more abusive video has been blocked from the channel “LEGAL WAR CS KARNAN”. The password for the channel was changed and the video is not private and cannot be viewed by the general public.Following their appearance on September 28, voice samples were recovered from Justice CS Karnan in front of witnesses. A search was also conducted at the house of M Dhanasekaran, from where one computer CPU and posters of the Anti Corruption Dynamic Party were seized. These were sent to the Tamil Nadu Forensic Sciences Laboratory through the Court for analysis.The police added that the investigation is still in progress and is being monitored on a day to day basis by the Director-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police..The Court has posted the matter for further hearing on December 7, when the police have been directed to be present at the physical hearing. .Senior counsel S Prabakaran appeared for the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The matter is being heard by a Bench of Justices M Sathyanarayanan and R Hemalatha.