MADURAI: Rejecting the Crime Branch - Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID)’s plea seeking more time to crack the case of kidnap and murder of K N Ramajeyam, brother of former DMK Minister K N Nehru, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Tuesday transferred investigation of the case to CBI.
K N Ramajeyam (then 50), a native of Tiruchi and former Chairman of CARE Group of Institutions, was the brother of a former Transport Minister K N Nehru during the DMK rule. In March 2012, he was kidnapped and was later found to have been murdered on the banks of Cauvery river in Tiruchy at Sarkarpalayam. He had been gagged and his hands and legs were found tied. The incident occurred when he went for a morning walk.
A case was registered by Thillai Nagar police and several teams were formed under the supervision of Tiruchi Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) and the case was then transferred to CB-CID as investigation did not show any progress.
Later, in December 2014, Ramajeyam’s widow R Latha filed a plea seeking a CBI probe into the case as she contented that the culprits were not nabbed despite her family providing many clues. Also, CB-CID which had been tarnishing the image of her late husband by alleging his involvement in a double-murder case, due to political reasons and pressure, hesitated to ascertain the truth behind the killing, she further contended.
During the hearing on Tuesday, Justice A M Basheer Ahamed, while being critical of CB-CID, observed that all 12 reports repeatedly filed by the agency in sealed covers so far appeared to be the same and there was stagnation in investigation despite lapse of five years since the murder.
Rejecting the CB-CID’s prayer seeking more time to crack the case, the judge transferred the investigation to CBI to overcome all possibilities of suspicion in the minds of family members of the deceased or the public on the investigation into the mysterious death of a prominent person.
He further directed the Joint Director of CBI to nominate an investigation officer and to complete the probe and file a report within three months.
Former DMK Min’s brother
K N Ramajeyam (then aged 50), a native of Tiruchi and former Chairman of CARE Group of Institutions, was the brother of a former Transport Minister K N Nehru during the DMK rule.
Case file
29 Mar 2012: K N Ramajayam found dead in Thiruvalarcholai
1 Apr 2012: Two persons picked
up in Tirunelveli for questioning
6 Apr 2012: Woman Councillor in Thoothukudi questioned
21 Jun 2012: Probe handed over to CB-CID
11 Dec 2014: Nehru approaches Madras HC seeking information on the progress in investigation
12 Dec 2014: Ramajeyam’s wife Latha demands CBI probe
12 Jun 2015: HC grants six weeks for CB-CID to file status report
21 Aug 2015: CB-CID seeks CBI help to do polygraph tests on suspects
28 Oct 2015: CB-CID informs HC about breakthrough, seeks three months to complete probe
28 Oct 2015: Madurai Bench of Madras High Court set two-month deadline for CB-CID to finish probe
5 Jan 2016: HC grants two more months time to CB-CID to crack the case
1 Jun 2016: CB-CID submits report in sealed cover to HC bench
27 Apr 2017: HC bench reserves order on plea for CBI probe
6 Jul 2017: CM clarifies that over 1,000 people were questioned.
3 Sep 2017: CB-CID seeks public help to find clues