The Madras high court has come down heavily on the elite Central Crime Branch police, stating that the special department of the state police delayed filing FIRs and accepted bribes from both the accused and the complainant.

Dismissing an anticipatory bail petition in an economic offences case on Wednesday, Justice R Regupathi questioned the CCB's inability to quickly file cases against the suspects and conduct an investigation.

The case pertained to a bank loan of Rs 25 lakh availed by one S Kalaiselvi by submitting property documents as collateral security. After the bank officials filed a complaint with the CCB against Kalaiselvi for producing forged documents, she moved the court for bail.

The government advocate informed the court that the CCB was holding a "petition inquiry" on the matter. This prompted the judge to make the observations after dismissing the anticipatory bail plea.

When a serious cognisable offence was brought to the notice of the police, it was their responsibility to register an FIR and not embark on "panchayats or petition inquiry."

It had been repeatedly held by the Supreme Court and this court that if a cognisable offence was made out, it was the bounden duty of police officials to register a case and investigate, the judge observed.

A high profile wing of the police department was taking bribes from both complainant and the accused and making a mockery of law and order enforcement by delaying registration of cases, he noted.

The judge said unless the city police commissioner and DGP took serious note of the practices of the CCB, which handled cases of grave nature, enforcement of law and order would become a mockery.

He hoped the authorities concerned would take note of the court's observations and rein in the crime branch units in the city and the districts.

In a hard hitting order, the judge said such dubious practices were taking place right under the nose of the commissioner of police, in whose office premises the CCB wing was located.