A public interest litigation petition has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking a CBI investigation into the murder of BJP’s State general secretary, V.Ramesh, in Salem on July 19.
The petitioner said the real conspiracy behind the killing should be unearthed and the culprits brought to book. The `Special Investigation Division’ (SID) which was now probing the murder cannot go to the root of the conspiracy as there was a possibility of fundamentalists of other States having been involved. The investigation would not be fair, free and effective.
In the petition filed through counsel R.Krishnamurthy, the petitioner, T.Manoharan of Nangavalli in Salem district, said the slain leader was his friend. Had the State police given proper protection to Ramesh, the murder could have been prevented. Hindu leaders were being targeted in the State. He listed the murders, including that of Vellaiappan, Hindu Munnani State secretary, at Vellore on July 1. The State government was not taking the matter seriously. The State intelligence had become “totally ineffective.”
With the assistance of other national investigating agencies, the CBI alone would be able to unearth the truth behind the murder of Ramesh and book the real culprits. The State government should also pay adequate compensation to Ramesh’s family. The petitioner prayed the court to transfer investigation from the SID to CBI.
The First Bench comprising the Acting Chief Justice R.K.Agrawal and Justice M.Sathyanarayanan on Wednesday reserved orders on the petition.
