Bangalore: Viewing seriously the failure of a convict in a murder case to return to jail after release on parole two years ago, the Karnataka High Court has directed the Home Secretary, the Director-General of Police, the Bangalore Police Commissioner and the Superintendent of Central Prison to be present in court on Friday.

A Division Bench comprising Justice K. Bhakthavatsala and Justice K.N. Keshavanarayana passed the order after Special Public Prosecutor-II submitted to the court that Thejus alias Theja, a resident of Dodda Bommasandra here, was released from the Bangalore Central Prison for a month in February 2012 on parole, which was later extended by a month.

Thejus, however, has not returned to prison. The incident came to light after the High Court noticed that no advocate was representing Thejus in an appeal, filed by all the convicts in the murder case, and that he could not be produced before court, though a warrant had been issued.

The court later asked the Special Public Prosecutor-II to file a report ascertaining his details. The appeal has been filed questioning the 2009 verdict of a City Civil and Sessions Court, convicting them on the charge of murdering Narasimha Murthy in 2006 in Subramanyapura police limits here.

Pulling up the police and the prison authorities for serious lapse in securing Thejus, the Bench wanted to know from the top officials how the authorities failed in discharging their duty,and the action to be initiated under such circumstances.