TIRUNELVELI: The CB-CID arrested five persons on Thursday in connection with the murder of a 24-year-old Madurai engineer Rajeshprabhu on the Nagercoil-Tirupati-Mumbai Express 6352 in 2008.
S Rajeswari, SP, CB-CID, South Zone, told reporters here on Thursday that Rajeshprabhu (24) an engineer in a private company in Gujarat boarded train number 6352 Nagercoil-Mumbai Express on January 13, 2008. He was in coach S10 on an open ticket (unreserved). Around 6.30 am the train reached Tirunelveli junction and was ready to leave when it was stopped as someone had pulled the emergency chain. Meanwhile, the TTE Ramadoss found Rajeshprabhu dead with eight stab injuries inside S9 coach.
On May 15, 2008, CB-CID started investigations on the orders of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. Investigation revealed that there were five passengers — Jeyakumar Jothi (35), Raja alias Subramanian (29), Jeyaram Jothi an engineer from Lakshmipuram, Ramesh (23) of Pitchaikudiirruppu and Rengaiah (69) of Lakshmipuram of Kanyakumari district in coach S10.
A heated argument broke out between the five passengers as Rajeshprabhu had also come there to sit on an unreserved ticket. Meanwhile, Ramadoss intervened and allotted seat No 1 for Rajeshprabhu, which was strongly opposed by the others and he was referred to travel in S9 coach by the TTE. Thereafter, Jeyakumar Jothi, Raja and engineer Jeyaram Jothi of Lakshmipuram assaulted Rajeshprabhu. Raja also stabbed him causing his death. Jeyakumar Jothi and Jeyaram Jothi were brothers and Rengaiah was their father. Rajeswari said that all the accused were arrested.