CBI registers case against police, revenue department officials on Anti-Sterlite police firing

The Special Crime Branch of the CBI-Chennai has registered a case against police and revenue department officials in connection with criminal investigation to the case of police firing against protesters demanding the permanent closure of the Vedanta-owned Sterlite Copper factory in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.

The FIR does not name suspects, but specifies that the case is registered against "unkown persons and public servants from police and revenue departments." ET has accessed the FIR document of the CBI.

The Madras High Court had transferred to the CBI a batch of writ petitions seeking a probe into the circumstances that led the state police department to fire at protesters who picketed the office of District Collector in Thoothukudi on May 22 this year. Protests swelled during the May protest after a massive demonstration in March, signalling unification of forces that have sought the shuttering of the factory for many years.


According to the FIR document of the CBI, the suspected crimes include ‘criminal conspiracy and public servant disobeying law to cause injury…’ The First Information Report is based on a complaint by CPI(M) functionary in Thoothukudi, KS Arjunan.

The Madras High Court, in its order appointing the CBI as the investigator of the case, said it would be the duty of the CBI to “get to the bottom of things” and file chargesheets through the investigation. The court also mandated the CBI to complete the investigation within four months.