MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Friday ordered CB-CID probe into the alleged custodial death of a 30-year-old man V Dinesh Kumar at the hands of Anna Nagar police in Madurai on Thursday. A bench of justices Anita Sumanth and C Kumarappan further ordered the authorities to ensure that Dinesh Kumar’s autopsy is conducted forthwith and as per the guidelines laid down by the court in 2020.
Also, directions were issued to preserve the CCTV footage recorded in Vandiyur outpost and its vicinity between 4.30 am and 2 pm on October 9.
The bench gave the directions on a Public Interest Litigation filed by advocate C Selvakumar seeking a CB-CID probe, an interim compensation of Rs 25 lakh and government job for the victim’s family member. Another petition filed by the victim’s mother V Muthulaxmi seeking directions for proper postmortem examination and preservation of CCTV footage, seeking registration of murder case, invoking SC/ST Act, among others, was clubbed with this case.Muthulaxmi stated in her petition that the Anna Nagar inspector Flower Sheela came to her house along with three constables at 4.30 am and took away her son Dinesh Kumar for an inquiry. Since he did not return till 9 am, his father Velmurugan went to Anna Nagar police station and was informed that Dinesh Kumar was being interrogated inside.
While he waited there, Sheela allegedly went to their home and brought Muthulaxmi to the police station at 12.30 pm and asked her if Dinesh knew swimming. Though she replied in the affirmative, the police officials did not share any information about him till 1 pm, when they finally revealed that Dinesh had drowned in a pond while trying to escape from their custody at Vandiyur outpost. Alleging foul play, she moved the court.
During the hearing, additional public prosecutor T Senthilkumar denied allegations of custodial torture and said police have video evidence to disprove the charges. However, the judges orally observed that they were not casting aspersions on the police but the case has to be transferred to the CB-CID to ensure justice is not just done but ‘seen’ to be done. Sources said, due to the inquest, the postmortem was not conducted on Friday.
