Sathankulam custodial deaths: HC wants CBI’s chargesheet in two cases

The bail pleas of jailed S. Murugan, head constable and constables M Muthuraja and X Thomas Francis came up for hearing before Justice V Bharathidasan.

The petition counsel stated that five persons belonged to ‘Friends of Police’ were present at Sathankulam police station through the night after the detention of Jeyaraj and Bennix in the late evening of June 19 this year.

Moreover, the then head constable Murugan in his confession statement mentioned that those five persons from the ‘Friends of Police’ thrashed the detainees including father and son during that time in the station.

Despite having confessed it, the sleuths attached to CBI during its probe did not enquire those five persons and there’s not even a mention of these five persons of the ‘Friends of Police’.

Citing these, the petition counsel doubted whether the CBI had any intention behind and argued that those five from ‘Friends of Police’ should also be inquired.

Meanwhile, counsel on behalf of CBI raised strong objections to any grant of bail to the cops.

The Judge, after hearing, opined that there could be a possibility of destroying evidence in the cases if bail was granted to the petitioners.

Since the CBI has filed chargesheet in the two cases, the agency could further progress in the probe.

Moreover, the Judge said the court required details of key witnesses concerning two women constables and examined by the CBI.

Citing these, the Judge directed the CBI to submit the chargesheet filed in the two cases before the court and also produce copies of the chargesheet to nine accused imprisoned in the cases that were adjourned indefinitely.