CBI probe into woman DSP’s death dropped

In a report submitted to the Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Coimbatore, the agency claimed to have closed the case, by stating she had committed suicide.

Although the probe report was submitted to the court last month (April 16), it was known to media only on Monday. However, the court has issued a summon to Ravi, father of the late police officer, to appear before it on May 9 and express his views on the case.

The DSP, who was probing into the murder case of Dalit youth Gokulraj, was found hanging in her quarters on September 18, 2015. The beheaded body of Gokulraj was found on a railway track at South Thottipalayam near Pallipalayam on June 24, 2015. Following the death of Vishnupriya, her father N Ravi alleged that she took the extreme step due to harassment by superior officers.

Vishnupriya’s friend and batchmate K Maheswari, who was then serving as a DSP at Keezhakkarai in Ramanathapuram district, also alleged that she had committed suicide unable to bear harassment from higher officials.

Initially the probe into her death was carried out by Tiruchengode police. The State government subsequently transferred the Gokulraj and Vishnupriya cases to the CB-CID. However, her father moved the Madras High Court seeking its transfer to the CBI.

In his petition, he contended the investigation conducted by CB-CID cannot be expected to be fair and proper. Only an independent, fair and impartial investigation will reveal the truth behind Vishnupriya’s death, the petition stated. Following this, the court then ordered a transfer of the case from CB-CID to CBI in July 2016.

After investigating the case for more than two years, the central agency finally submitted its report to the court last month.