Sterlite firing: SC stays HC order for DVAC probe
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the vigilance probe ordered by the Madras High Court into the assets of police and government officials allegedly involved in the firing on those protesting against Sterlite copper smelting plant in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi in 2018 over pollution concerns.
A three-judge bench, presided by CJI D Y Chandrachud and comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, sought the response of the TN government on the appeal challenging the HC’s July 15 order.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the accused police officers, said the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) report had supported their stand saying they were attacked and overpowered by the protesters.
He submitted that police had opened fire only on the 100th day of the protests.
The HC order came on a plea by activist Henri Tiphagne against the closure of the suo motu probe initiated by the NHRC into the incident in which 13 protesters were killed in police firing.
It directed the TN Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to look into the assets of all accused police and revenue officials in the case.
It asked the DVAC to probe the assets of these persons and their kin at least two years prior to and two years after the police firing.