LAHORE - Justice Shabbar Raza Rizvi of the Lahore High Court proceeding under suo moto authority against the alleged release of the persons accused of theft at the residence of senior journalist Saeed Aasi chided the Investigating Officer, SI Farooq Bhatti while holding him not fit in the service. The learned judge said, the SI showed a highly irresponsible conduct which did not merit his retention on the service. "If he continued to exonerate and leave the accused on his own, tomorrow he can do the same to the terrorists as well. Duty is discharged strictly under the law and not at whims," the judge said adding whether small or big, an accused is accused who must be dealt with in accordance with law and cannot be set free without due process of law. This must be the professional character of a policeman, the court said, underscoring that any investigation must be above favour and fear as well as according to the law. The SI however said the investigation into the case was going on and the 3 accused persons were under remand. However, Civil Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate Saeed Ahmad Awan held that the accused were not present before him. The court passed a strict warning to SI to be careful in future and directed him to present a complete report on the case on September 29 next. It may be recalled that LHC Chief Justice Sayed Zahid Hussain took up suo moto proceedings in light of a published letter of Deputy Editor Nawa-i-Waqt Saeed Aasi that the police had declared innocent and released the persons accused of lifting motor-bike of his son from his Sabzazar residence.