Acting on a petition alleging illegal detention and torture of a Class XI student Babu (name changed) at the Parthibanoor police station in Ramanathapuram, the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) has ordered a probe by the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) into the incident.
Babu’s mother Maria Gnanam, hailing from Paramakudi, had filed a petition contending that on Oct 23 last year the Parthibanoor police had taken away her son for questioning in connection with the theft of jewels. According to the petitioner, Babu was kept in illegal custody for days together. Later he was let off.
Contending that the brutal police treatment had left her minor son in a state of turmoil, she prayed the court to direct the DGP to take action against the Inspector concerned and pay `5 lakh as compensation to Babu.
The Inspector filed a counter affidavit.
Holding that it would not be possible for the court to come to a conclusion merely on the basis of the affidavit and counter-affidavit, Justice K K Sasidharan directed the Ramanathapuram Collector to conduct an enquiry through the RDO.