The Supreme Court on Wednesday and the Madras High Court on the arrest and suspension of Additional Director General of Police HM Jayaram in connection with his alleged involvement in the abduction of a 17-year-old boy, Live Law reported.

A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan was hearing an anticipatory bail petition filed by Jayaram against the High Court’s order that had directed his arrest.

“He is a senior police officer,” the as saying by The Hindu. “These kinds of orders are shocking and demoralising.”

Bhuyan said that orders such as the one passed by the Madras High Court were shocking. “I have been a judge for 18 years,” he was quoted as saying by Live Law. “I never knew I had this power [to direct arrest].”

While Jayaram’s counsel told the Supreme Court that he had been, the state government maintained that he was not arrested but had merely joined the investigation, Bar and Bench reported.

The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on Thursday. The state government’s counsel has been directed to seek instructions on whether Jayaram’s suspension order would be revoked.

Jayaram was taken into custody on Monday, shortly after the Madras High Court ordered his arrest in a kidnapping case that also names Kilvaithinakuppam MLA Poovai M Jagan...