HC transfers to CB-CID probe into death of father-son duo in Tuticorin

Madurai, Jun 30 (PTI) The Madras High Court on Tuesday
ordered the transfer of investigation into the death of a
father-son duo in Tuticorin, alleged victims of police
torture, to the CB-CID, expressing fear that evidence could
disappear by the time CBI took over the probe.
The case would be handled by the Deputy Superintendent
of CB-CID, Tirunelveli, Anil Kumar.
The state government had on Monday transferred the probe
to the central investigation agency.
A division bench of Justices P N Prakash and B Pugalendhi
said the court was handing over the case to the CB-CID as it
feared that evidence could disappear by the time CBI took
over.
The Judges felt that the immediate transfer of the case
to the CB-CID was done so that public confidence was not lost.
The bench sought the opinion of the state government on
the interim arrangement but transferred the case to the CB
CID.
The post mortem report (preliminary) and Judicial
Magistrate's report indicated there was prima facie material
for registering a murder case in the matter, the bench said.
The court said the probe of the case should not be
delayed even by a second and directed the CB-CID to take up
the probe immediately.
Meanwhile, three policemen including an Additional SP,
appeared before the court as directed by it.
It had summoned them to appear before it for allegedly
trying to prevent an enquiry by the Judicial Magistrate, who
had also submitted that one of them, a constable, had made
some 'disparaging' remarks.
D Kumar, ADSP, Tuticorin, C Prathapan, DSP and Maharajan,
a constable attached with the Sathankulam Police station,
appeared before the court
The constable told the court he was "overstressed" and
had made the remark against the Judicial magistrate by
mistake.
P Jayaraj and his son Bennicks, arrested for 'violating'
lockdown norms over business hours of their cellphone shop,
died at a hospital in Kovilpatti on June 23, with the
relatives alleging that they were severely thrashed at the
Sathankulam police station by the personnel earlier.
The incident had triggered a nation-wide furore, leading
to the suspension of five policemen, including an inspector
and two Sub-Inspectors.
All the personnel posted at Sathankulam police station
earlier have been transferred out. PTI SSN SA
ROH ROH

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)