CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Wednesday rejected a plea for constituting a panel headed by a sitting or retired judge of the court to probe the death of Gandhian Sasi Perumal on July 31 last in Kanyakumari district.
When the matter came up for hearing, Justice Sundresh refused to accede with the prayer. “Though the ultimate object of the deceased may have been laudable, the question for appointing an inquiry does not arise on the facts of the case, especially when it is the deceased who chose the mode of protest. As the entire incident occurred in broad day light in the presence of a mass gathering, there are no compelling circumstances warranting such an enquiry. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, a direction is issued to the DIG, Tirunelveli, who is supposed to be the higher authority of the region, to monitor and supervise the investigation along with the Superintendent of Police, Kanyakumari District,” the judge said.
The IO should complete the probe within three months. The petitioner as well as the impleaded respondents are at liberty to furnish the materials available with them, if any, to the IO. The judge made it clear that the observations made in this writ petition would not have any bearing on the investigating agency.
The judge also noted that the deceased voluntarily climbed the cell tower. Everything had happened before the public eye and was videographed. The deceased reached the top of the tower as against another protestor Jeyaseelan, who stopped midway. The photograph also shows that the deceased was carrying a rope and trying to place it over his head. Whether it is meant for his protection or otherwise is a matter for investigation. There is no material to come to the conclusion that there will be any bias in the investigation. Admittedly, neither the petitioner nor the impugned respondents were eye witnesses, the judge said.