Days after Ramkumar, a Dalit, was arrested for allegedly hacking to death Infosys employee Swathi at the Nungambakkam railway station, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan has triggered a controversy by demanding a CBI probe into it. In an interview to Sruthisagar Yamunan on Friday, the Dalit leader gives his justification for the demand while making it clear that he would not stand in the way of the real culprit being brought to justice, irrespective of his caste. Excerpts:
You have asked for a CBI inquiry into the murder of Chennai software engineer Swathi. Why?
Let me be very clear at the outset. I am not commenting on whether Ramkumar is guilty or not. That is for the courts to do. But the developments over the last few days have raised serious doubts over the manner in which this probe is taking place. Our first issue is that there is absolutely no transparency and the police have indulged in selective leaking of information to the media. It is to ensure a fair probe that we are asking for a CBI inquiry.
What are these developments that you are referring to?
An advocate close to the BJP and RSS, who was also a Union Government counsel, suddenly appears from nowhere and files a bail application on behalf of Ramkumar without the latter’s consent. In the application, he has alleged Ramkumar did not commit the murder and the real culprits have to be found. This raises doubts on what information the lawyer has. What is his motive? I cannot believe that a man linked to the RSS will come to the rescue of a Dalit in a case where a Brahmin girl has been murdered. Through experience we know this clearly doesn’t add up. This raises doubts if there are attempts to protect the guilty through such interventions disguised as support to Ramkumar.
On the one hand, you accuse those linked to the BJP/RSS of trying to muddle the issue. On the other, you seek a probe by the CBI which is under the BJP-led Centre. Isn’t this contradictory?
It is true that the CBI is prone to political interference. But we feel it is better than leaving it to the State police which easily get carried away by the demands of the dominant castes. Though the Brahmin community is not numerically strong in Tamil Nadu, it is highly influential in the social sphere. Past incidents have taught us enough on how the police handle cases involving Dalits.
You welcomed the arrest of Ramkumar and initially praised the police for the swift action. Why are you questioning its credibility now?
It is because of later developments. In this case, the entire force was diverted to arrest Ramkumar after the murder. Now go back and recollect what happened in the Gokulraj murder case. Despite knowing who the accused was and even as video evidence on the murder emerged, they let the accused Yuvaraj roam around freely for months. There was delay even in filing the FIR. The accused was going around giving TV interviews, but the police acted as though they didn’t know where he was. There were even claims that it was a suicide. I can say this is the psyche of the police here. They get carried away by interventions from the dominant castes. In this case, all that you have read in the media has come from the police. Even the claim that Ramkumar tried to commit suicide and slit his throat has gaping holes.
First, there were reports he used a knife. Then came the blade theory. The BJP-linked lawyer claimed that story is totally false. Ramkumar’s father has also categorically dismissed claims that his son has committed the crime. Though we could say it is a father’s plea, given the social background of the family, we cannot brush it aside since the boy has no criminal background or psychological history.
Some say you had intervened because the accused is a Dalit and that you wouldn’t have if it was someone else. How do you see this charge?
It is totally rubbish and defamatory. I repeat that I am not passing a judgment on whether Ramkumar is guilty or not. I think this murder is a gruesome act rooted in violent patriarchy and I want the guilty to be punished even if it is a Dalit. In fact, I have not met anyone from Ramkumar’s family though I called on the family of Swathi. All we are seeking is a fair probe to get the real culprit. I am not looking at it from the caste angle at all.
