After a man who was allegedly tortured by the Tallakulam police in Madurai and threatened with a false case died by suicide, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court transferred the probe to CB-CID.
Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan directed the CB-CID officials to complete the investigation into the case in 12 weeks. The court was hearing a petition filed by M. Rengammal of Madurai, the mother of the man. She sought a CB-CID probe in the case. Her son M. Easwaran allegedly died by suicide.
She alleged that only because of the torture by Tallakulam police her son died by suicide. The police had beaten him up, threatened him and compelled him to admit guilt in a case. If he did not do so, then they would foist a false case against him under NDPS Act, she alleged.
In a status report, the police said they had received information that liquor was being sold on the streets near Bibikulam. During patrol, they found the petitioner’s son and another person in the area were in possession of liquor bottles.
A case was booked against them and they were taken into custody. Subsequently, Easwaran escaped from custody. Later, he died by suicide. He had set himself ablaze and suffered serious injuries. A dying declaration was also recorded by the Judicial Magistrate concerned.
The judge observed that if the men were in illegal possession of liquor bottles then the same had to be produced before the court concerned. It is clear that the police had put up a false case against the men.
As per the dying declaration, the police personnel had beaten Easwaran and caused injuries on his face. Further, they also forced him to admit the guilt. Unfortunately, he died by suicide. There is abetment to suicide, by way of torture by the police personnel, the judge said.
The case was filed against Easwaran only for statistical purposes. The police tried to foist a false case against him and they also compelled him to admit guilt. The court feels that it is a fit case for transfer of investigation to the file of CB-CID, the judge said.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).
