When will you nab accused in Subhasri’s death, MHC questions officials

The Madras High Court on Wednesday (September 25) slammed Chennai police and city corporation authorities against their inaction in nabbing the accused S Jayagopal, former AIADMK councillor, who is responsible for erecting an illegal banner in Pallikaranai, which led to techie Subhasri’s death on September 12 in Chennai.

“When are you going to nab the prime accused,” questioned Justice M Sathyanarayanan to additional advocate general who appeared on behalf of Chennai corporation. Replying to the query, state government’s senior counsel Vijay Narayan said that a team under the St. Thomas Mount Assistant Commissioner, who was making efforts to arrest Jayagopal. The additional advocate general said that the accused would be held within a short time.

Pertaining to the death of Subhasri, P Wilson, DMK’s senior advocate, drew the attention of the division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice N Seshasayee to the affidavit filed by the party.

Wilson said that it has been 13 days since the incident, but the accused is yet to be arrested and no action has been taken against the erring police officials who failed to nab the accused. He also asked the division bench to transfer the case to the CB-CID.

Also read | HC demands reply over TN govt inaction after Subhasri’s death

The bench also granted a stay on the circular issued by Chennai Corporation on September 19 that people putting up banners without permission will be slapped a penalty of ₹5,000 and one year imprisonment, for the printers.

“Did we not celebrate marriages and functions before these digital banners came,” Justice Seshasayee questioned advocate Gnanadesikan, who appeared for the Mega Digital flex banners and added that if the banner was biodegradable or non-biodegradable and the pollution aspect of the banners.

Justice Seshasayee said that the issue is not taken seriously even after the death of Subhasri and that only status reports are being filed so far.

The court has also asked the two deputy additional commissioners of St. Thomas Mount and Pallikaranai to file a status report on the action taken so far on or before October 23. The court has posted all the hearings related to flex banners on October 23.

Also read | Once a publicity essential, banner culture has outlived its utility