Custodial death: CB-CID files chargesheet against Chennai cops

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu CB-CID on Monday filed charge sheet in sessions court against accused police personnel in connection with the custodial death of youth V Vignesh (25), in Chennai on the night April 18 this year. The charge sheet running to over 1,000 pages had statements from 127 witnesses beside over 290 documents. The investigation team had also presented 64 exhibits. The CB-CID has registered a case against the accused under IPC Section 302 along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention ofAtrocities) Act, 1989. The accused SSI Kumar, head constable Munab, police constable Pounraj of Secretariat Colony policestation, AR constables Jegajeevanram and Chandrakumar and Home Guard Deepak. They were arrested on 7 May. Vignesh of Foreshore Estate who used to ride horses forvisitors at Marina beach. He along with one G Ramesh (28) of Triplicane, ahouse painter, were intercepted during the vehicle check at Kelly's junction around 2 am on the night April 18.

Since Vignesh was allegedly in possession of a knifeand five grams of ganja, police asked them to come to the police station.Vignesh, who was inebriated, allegedly refused to cooperate after which the police took him forcibly to the police station where he was allegedly assaulted by the police. When he collapsed he was taken to a nearby private hospital and was referred to the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.