CHENNAI: Leading a road blockade in front of the Government Royapettah Hospital, Ramkumar’s counsel Ramaraj refused to buy the police version that his client had committed suicide on Sunday. Casting doubt on the events leading to Ramkumar’s death, Ramaraj alleged that his client was murdered by the officials.
“When I spoke to him yesterday, he was very confident of getting bail and leaving prison. He had no reason to commit suicide. It is purely a murder by the officials,” alleged advocate Ramaraj.
Ramkumar was slated to be produced before a judicial magistrate court on Monday, when his judicial custody would have come to an end. In accordance with standard procedure, his custody would have been extended for 15 days, unless he was given bail.
A junior of Ramaraj confirmed that he had visited Ramkumar in prison on Saturday and had spoken to him for an hour, from 11.30 am to 12.30 pm.
Selvakumar, a relative of Ramkumar said, “Tomorrow (on Monday) he was to be produced in the court for remand extension. So we came to Chennai to see him. But the prison officials phoned us saying Ram Kumar was ill and asked us to come to government Royapettah hospital. After reaching here, we were told he committed suicide.”
Speaking to reporters at Meenachipuram in Tirunelveli, Ramkumar’s father Paramasivam said that the police killed his son. Ram Kumar suffered electric shock on left side the cheek and the chest, according to a doctor in the hospital.
Ramkumar was ‘brought dead’ to Government Royapettah Hospital around 5.45pm. The accident register issued by the chief medical officer says, “Ramkumar was ‘brought dead’. Alleged history of electric shock at dispensary block at Central prison-II around 4.35 pm. He also suffered laceration on chin, right side of the neck, above the left nipple and below the left nipple and abrasion on left upper arm”.
Meanwhile, jailor Jayaram lodged a complaint with the Puzhal police station.
Was 10 days away from sure-shot bail
Come September 29, Ram Kumar would have spent 90 days in prison that would have made him eligible for bail. As per the CrPC, an accused must be granted bail if police do not file chargesheet even 90 days after his/her arrest under charges punishable with sentences of more than 10 years in jail. The Nungambakkam police were yet to file the chargesheet in the sensational murder case
Death in jail
June 24
An unknown assailant hacks techie Swathi to death at Nungambakkam railway station
June 28
Chennai city police take over probe from the Government Railway Police
July 2
Chennai’s biggest manhunt culminates at Ramkumar’s house at Meenakshipuram in Tirunelveli
Accused shifted to Government Medical College Hospital in Tirunelveli after he slits his throat
July 4
Shifted to Chennai in an ambulance. Metropolitan magistrate records his statement
July 5
Ramkumar remanded in judicial custody for 15 days. Puzhal prison officials take over security detail at hospital
August 18
Accused’s remand extended by 15 days
September 18
Ramkumar dies of electric shock. Officials term it suicide