Judicial custody of 5 ex-Sathankulam cops extended till July 30

Amidst tight security, the five accused were produced before Madurai Chief Judicial Magistrate court on Thursday evening after the completion of the three-day custody period.

Earlier, on July 14, TV Hemandakumar, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Madurai, granted three-day custody after hearing the petition filed by the CBI team and directed the premier investigating agency to produce them before 5.30 pm on July 16.

During the three-day CBI custodial interrogation, the accused were quizzed in connection with the custodial deaths in the office at Athikulam in Madurai. The accused were also taken to Sathankulam police station, where they demonstrated how Jayaraj and Bennix were treated. With the aid of technicians, the CBI sleuths are making all efforts to retrieve the video evidence of police high-handedness recorded on CCTV camera in the Sathankulam station on the fateful night of June 19.

Meanwhile the State Human Rights Commission probe continued for the third day. Three police personnel, who escorted Jayaraj and Bennix to remand them in Kovilpatti sub jail, were interrogated on Thursday. Moreover, Kovilpatti jail authorities were also interrogated by the SHRC, sources said.