CJM court grants 3-day custody of 5 policemen to CBI

Chief Judicial Magistrate T V Hemandakumar granted the custody after hearing the petition filed by the CBI team and directed the probe agency to produce them before 5.30 pm on July 16.

The Additional Superintendent of Police of CBI, Vijay Kumar Shukla on Monday sought five-day custody of the five accused, including inspector Srithar, sub-inspectors – Raghu Ganesh and Balakrishnan, head Constable Murugan and constable Muthuraj through a petition file before the Chief Judicial Magistrate.

Amidst tight security, the accused were produced before the court on Tuesday and taken to the CBI office at Athikulam in Madurai for interrogation after getting custody, sources said.

After the deaths of P. Jayaraj (58) and his son J. Bennix (31) due to alleged custodial torture by Sathankulam police last month, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court took suo motu cognizance of the incident and ordered a judicial probe by the Kovilpatti JM.

Based on the findings of the inquest into their deaths, the High Court directed the CB CID to take over the probe. Subsequently, on a request from the state government the CBI took over the probe from the state investigating agency.

Earlier, the CB CID arrested five cops in connection with the case. All the five have been granted custody to the CBI.

When the CBI took over the probe, two FIRs were registered concerning the alleged custodial deaths and when the probe gained momentum murder charges under Section 302 of IPC were framed against them and were also accused under Sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 342 (wrongful confinement) read with 109 (abetment) of IPC. Among the detainees, Raghu Gnaesh, Sub Inspector figured as the first accused, whereas constable Muthuraj, the second accused, Balakrishnan, Sub Inspector as third accused and Inspector Srithar and Head constable Murugan as fourth and fifth accused in the case.

Meanwhile, Paldurai, Sub Inspector and Thomas, constable, who were among ten accused in the case, were lodged in Perurani jail, Thoothukudi on Tuesday after being discharged from Thoothukudi government medical college hospital.