Tuesday, August 23 2005 20:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: A petition filed in the Madras High Court seeking a CBI probe into the leakage of question papers in connection with the appointment of constables for the Tamil Nadu police was today (Aug 23, 2005) referred to the Chief Justice for posting before a Division Bench.

The charges were very serious as some senior police officers were allegedly involved and in view of the public importance 'I will post it for hearing before a Division Bench,' Justice D Murugesan said, when the petition came up for hearing.

The petitioner, A Thandapani, was one of the 1.3 lakh candidates, who had sat for the written tests held on March 27 and again on June one last.

Both were cancelled due to the leakage of question papers.

On the plea by the State Advocate General N R Chandran to the court to release all material pertaining to investigations carried out by police and action taken, which were in the High Court custody on the orders of the court, the Judge said the police could make its request to the bench that would be hearing the petition.

On August 12, the Tamil Nadu Government informed the High Court that an Inspector General of Police and 23 police personnel had been suspended in connection with leakage of question papers.

Besides, the Government said stringent disciplinary action would also be taken against 15 other police personnel.