Chennai:
A Tamil Nadu police officer was arrested on Wednesday and homicide costs filed towards him and 5 others accused within the custodial deaths of two males within the city of Tuticorin – a father and son allegedly tortured by cops after holding their store open 15 minutes longer than allowed amid the coronavirus lockdown.
Sub Inspector Raghu Ganesh was arrested by the Crime Branch of Tamil Nadu’s CID (Criminal Investigation Department) beneath related sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
“FIRs have been altered to 302 IPC. 12 special teams under IG and SP (CB-CID) are investigating all angles. One main accused – Sub Inspector Raghu Ganesh – has been arrested and is being remanded. Search and arrest parties are being formed to arrest the remaining,” Shankar, Inspector General (CB-CID) informed NDTV.
The CB-CID has modified each FIRs – one every for the loss of life of the daddy, Jeyaraj, and the son, Beniks – and to incorporate homicide costs towards two sub inspectors (Raghu Ganesh and Balakrishnan), two constables and two different people.
The police had earlier solely registered circumstances of suspicious deaths.
The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, which carried out its personal inquiry into the surprising incident, had requested the CB-CID to take over the case from Tuticorin Police till the CBI, to whom the case has been handed over, takes cost.
On Tuesday the court docket famous that primarily based on autopsy stories there have been grounds to cost the three policemen allegedly concerned within the deaths with homicide.
The court docket was additionally informed that CCTV footage that would present throw gentle on what occurred on the Sathankulam Police Station on June 19, when the 2 males had been arrested and allegedly tortured, had been deleted.
The court docket then initiated contempt motion towards three cops, together with a Deputy Superintendent and an Additional Deputy Superintendent, after the judicial Justice of the Peace who carried out the inquiry accused them of attempting to hinder his inquiry.
However, a key witness – a Head Constable – then testified to the brutal assault and the function of the police. Fearing that both the witness or the witness’ household may very well be intimidated, the court docket requested the police to supply safety.
The case, which has generated waves of shock throughout the nation and prompted actor-politician Kamal Haasan to explain Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Ok Palaniswami as a “prime accused”, was handed over to the CBI this week.
In an official assertion on the incident the Chief Minister and his deputy, O Pannerselvam, referred to as the deaths “very unfortunate” and vowed justice to the relations.
Jeyaraj, 59, and his son Beniks, 31, had been arrested June 19 for holding their cell phone store open 15 minutes longer than allowed in the course of the lockdown. The police claimed the 2 fought, verbally abused and resisted arrest.
The household has alleged the 2 males had been subjected to brutal torture whereas in police custody, stating extreme inner and exterior wounds, together with rectal bleeding, to again their claims.
Beniks was admitted to hospital at 7.45 PM on June 22. He died at round 9 PM, in line with a timeline launched by the police. His father was admitted round 10.30 PM the identical night time and died round 5.40 AM the next day.
