SIVAKASI WEATHER
Chinese crackers import: Plea seeks direction to CBI to expedite probe

03-09-2016
3rd September 2016

- The Times of India

Chinese crackers import: Plea seeks direction to CBI to expedite probe

MADURAI: The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Tuesday ordered notice on a petition that sought direction to the CBI to expedite investigation into a case filed with regard to the illegal import of Chinese firecrackers.
One A Muthukrishnan has filed the petition stating that the Madurai bench on September 25, 2014 passed orders transferring the investigation to CBI from the Sivakasi Town police station.

After obtaining the order copy on February 4, last year, he handed over all the documents relating to the investigation to the CBI and appeared for an inquiry on February 23. However, the agency did not complete its investigation. Thus, it should be directed to complete the same and file a final report, the petitioner prayed.

According to the petitioner, the ministry of commerce and industry on March 5, 2013 issued a circular stating that it had not granted licence to import Chinese firecrackers and directed the chief controller of explosives to bring to the notice of customs authority any movement of such firecrackers by some antisocial elements who clandestinely are importing them by declaring them as toys/ electronic goods.

Under those circumstances, the Sivakasi tahsildar in Virudhungar district conducted a raid in a firecrackers showroom on May 14, 2014 and found the banned Chinese firecrackers. The Sivakasi Town police registered a case with regard to it on May 17.

Even after registering the FIR, police did not take action. It resulted in the petitioner filing a public interest litigation. The high court bench which heard it passed the order transferring the investigation to the CBI, the petitioner said.

When the petition seeking to expedite the investigation came up for hearing before the division bench, it adjourned the case by one week by ordering notice to the CBI.

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