‘Is CID Crime a recovery agent?’ Gujarat HC wants to know over department’s interest in Surat land dispute case

After the CID (Crime Investigation Department) summoned a 76-year-old accused for investigation in a land dispute case, the Gujarat High Court has pulled up the department for acting like ‘a recovery agent’.

Justice Sandeep Bhatt has warned the CID Crime, saying, “Why does the CID Crime have so much interest in this case? Or do some officials have a special interest? CID Crime was not created for settling disputes and conflicts, but for investigating specific purposes and special crimes. CID Crime is not a recovery agent.”

Gujarat HC expressed serious displeasure over the CID Crime’s conduct in handling investigations and said that in many cases involving CID Crime investigations have come to the court’s attention, leading the high court to issue a stern warning. The high court stated that if such instances continue to come to their attention, they will take strict action.

During the hearing, the judge asked the name of CID Crime Additional Directorate General, Rajkumar Pandian. The Gujarat HC asked CID Crime to present a statement.

What was the land dispute case?

A land dispute case of Surat involving transactions from 2007, has seen extensive legal proceedings with multiple petitions and investigations pending in various courts. 

The accused sought to either transfer the investigation from CID Crime to another agency or to quash the related proceedings. Earlier, the HC directed the accused to cooperate with the investigation while granting relief from arrest, but the complainant subsequently obtained a stay order against this decision from the Supreme Court.

Amid these developments, the HC criticised CID Crime for its undue haste and approach during the investigation, reflecting the contentious nature of the case.

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