The Avaniapuram custodial death case took a u-turn on Monday after the father of the victim chose to withdraw his petition seeking a CBI probe filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.
Following a change of vakalat, Justice G. K. Ilanthiraiyan was informed that the father wanted to withdraw the petition. However, advocate Henri Tiphagne, who had represented the petitioner pro bono, urged that the petition be heard suo motu. The court allowed him to file a representation in this regard. P. Muthukaruppan had filed the petition seeking an inquiry into the death of his son M. Balamurugan.
It was said that Balamurugan and his associates were arrested by the police for allegedly kidnapping a youth and demanding money from his parents, following which a case was registered against them. The parents of Balamurugan were later informed that their son was admitted to GRH with injuries. He later succumbed at the hospital. The parents alleged custodial death.
The High Court Bench had ordered the conduct of post mortem by a senior doctor and had also directed that the CCTV footage at the Avaniapuram police station be preserved.
Letter to SHRC
Meanwhile, advocate Henri Tiphagne has written to the State Human Rights Commission, urging it to take up the case urgently.
