Madras High Court Directs CBI To Submit Final Report On Custodial Death Case By August 20

Chennai: The Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) on Tuesday directed the CBI to complete the probe into the gruesome illegal custodial torture of a temple security guard Ajith Kumar, which led to his death, and submit the final report in the jurisdictional court by August 20.

Ajith Kumar, who was accused by a woman of stealing jewels from her car, which she had given him to park, had died after being brutally beaten up and tortured in secluded spots, last month. Five policemen were arrested in connection with the case that shook Tamil Nadu.

A Bench of Justices S M Subramaniam and Maria Clete has directed the CBI, to which the case was transferred by the State Government, to appoint the Investigation Officer (IO) within one week. The IO shall collect the report of the District Judge, who had conducted an inquiry into the case, all material evidences, and related documents from the Registrar Judicial of the High Court.

In a series of directions, the court said the The Inspector General of Police (South Zone) and the Superintendents of Police of Madurai and Sivaganga districts must provide necessary assistance to the CBI team. Besides, witnesses in the case must be given protection under the Witness Protection Scheme.