Kerala’s CPI(M)-led lDF Government on Friday vehemently opposed a petition seeking High Court’s directive for a CBI investigation into the murder in police custody of a youth at Varappuzha near Kochi over a month ago even as AV George, a top police official holding the rank of Superintendent of Police, was suspended from service in connection with the case.
The Government argued that there was no need for a CBI probe into the custodial murder of Sreejith (26) of Devaswompadam, Varappuzha as the Kerala Police’s Crime Branch had been probing the incident. It said that the Crime Branch investigation was progressing in the right direction and the police officials named as accused in the case had already been arrested.
The High Court, which had earlier questioned the appropriateness of the police themselves holding a probe against police officials, had sought the Government’s opinion on handing over the case to the CBI. The Government had opposed the plea for a CBI probe when it had come up for the first time in the court on April 27.
Petitioner Akhila, widow of Sreejith, prayed to the court that orders for a CBI probe into the murder of her husband should not be delayed and that her petition be settled at the earliest. In her petition, Akhila has also demanded a compensation of Rs 1 crore. The High Court will now take up the case on May 22.
The State Government also strongly opposed in the court the plea of State BJP general secretary for permission to implead in the case. It said there was political motive behind Radhakrishnan’s move to implead in the case as a petition seeking orders for CBI probe had already been in the consideration of the court.
Sreejith, who was taken into custody at April 6 midnight by three officials of the now-disbanded Rural Tiger Force under then Superintendent of Police (Ernakulam Rural) AV George from his house in connection with the suicide of a neighbour, died at a Kochi hospital on April 9 due to the grave internal injuries he had suffered during torture in custody at Varappuzha Police Station.
George was suspended from service on Friday on the basis of the recommendation of the special probe team of the Crime Branch probing the custodial murder. The team had questioned him twice after other police officials had given statements against him. The Government had earlier transferred George to the Police Academy in the context of the custodial murder case.
The Crime Branch’s special probe team has several days ago arrested the three RTF officials who had taken Sreejith into custody from his house, Sub-Inspector GS Deepak of the Varappuzha police station and Circle Inspector of Police Crispin Sam of Paravur who was in charge of the probe in the suicide case.
The lDF Cabinet has announced a financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to Sreejith’s family and has decided to provide his widow with a Government job. The custodial murder has become a huge embarrassment for the lDF and its beleaguered Government especially in the context of the crucial Assembly by-election to be held in Chengannur on May 28.