Absconding constable in TN custodial death case arrested

Last updated on February 14th, 2023 at 11:40 am

The policeman was the last of the five to be arrested in the case and has been handed over to CB-CID.

The district Superintendent of Police confirmed the arrest of head constable Muthuraj, who had been missing since the arrest warrants were issued. Five police officers – one inspector, two sub-inspectors and two constables – have been accused in the deaths of a father-son duo in Tamil Nadu, charged with murder, evidence tampering and wrongful confinement. The absconding constable was found in a remote village and handed over immediately to CB-CID.

The case against the five of them primarily hinges on the testimony of a woman constable at the station who spoke about the policemen beating the victims all through the night. Her statements were initially given to a judicial magistrate who had come to the station to conduct inquiries. She was the only person to come forward with information while other police officers there openly hostile towards the court-appointment team.

In a report submitted to the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, the magistrate said one constable told him disparagingly that he had no power to do anything there. The chief judicial magistrate recorded the statements of the lady constable and the Court directed to the district administration to provide her security. She has been given a month’s leave with pay.

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Based on the autopsy report, the constable’s statement and the magistrate’s report, the case has been turned over to the CB-CID. Their team has been questioning the family of the victims as well as other witnesses in the case, including the woman constable. New evidence like CCTV footage has also emerged which cast doubt on the policemen’s version of the events of the night. On June 22-23, the father-son duo died after two days in police custody during which time they were brutally assaulted. The case led to widespread outrage in the stage and gained nationwide attention. More than 26 policemen have been transferred after this including senior officers like the Assistant Superintendent of Police and Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Related News: https://indiaobservers.com/national/2020/06/25/custodial-deaths-of-father-son-disrupts-tn/