Sathankulam custodial deaths: Six booked on murder charges, SI arrested

The CB-CID on Wednesday arrested sub-inspector Raghu Ganesh after it booked six people on murder charges in connection with the death of a father-son duo, allegedly beaten up by police personnel at the Sathankulam police station last week.

The Madras High Court had on Tuesday directed the investigating agency's Tirunelveli DSP Anil Kumar to probe the case. CB-CID officials led by Kumar conducted enquiries with the family members of the deceased, besides in the locality where the duo ran their cellphone shop. 

CB-CID sleuths also visited the Sathankulam police station, since brought under the Revenue department as directed by the High Court.

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. The former SP is on compulsory wait.

The Madras High Court had directed a CB-CID probe into the matter although the state government had transferred the case to the CBI.