The Thoothukudi police department has, on Friday, apprehended head constable of Sathankulam police station Muthuraj who had been at large and under the scanner of the CBCID with connection to the case of custodial deaths of Jayaraj and Bennicks in Sathankulam, Thoothukudi.

Muthuraj's arrest has come a day after the CBCID team has detained four police officers of Sathankulam - suspended Police Inspector Sridhar, two sub-inspectors Balakrishnan and Raghu Ganesh, and a head constable Murugan and remanded them under judicial custody for 15 days at Perurani district jail in Thoothukudi. 

However, Muthuraj had evaded the arrest and was on run following which the police brought him under 'wanted list' and conducted the search operation since Thursday to detain the absconding officer who has been one of the cops having a direct connection to the custodial deaths of the father and son. The case has been probing by the CBCID police and on Friday, the probing team has asserted that they will arrest Muthuraj soon. 

According to the reports, Muthuraj was arrested by the Thoothukudi district police on Friday night and he was handed over to the CBCID team for further investigation. Muthuraj was zeroed in Vilathikulam and taken under custody. The police said that they had located and detained Muthuraj based on the inputs on his location and by arresting Muthuraj, the CBCID had detained five officers so far connected to the case in three days since taking over the probe.

The reports further stated that Muthuraj was produced before Thoothukudi court on Saturday morning and the court has directed the probing team to take the detained officer under judicial custody till July 17 for further interrogation. The case has been attaining major developments after the probe has been taken by the CBCID as per the directive of the Madras High Court Madurai Bench. 

The Crime Branch started the probe on Tuesday and on Wednesday, it arrested one of the sub-inspectors of Sathankulam Raghu Ganesh, and three other cops including Inspector were arrested on Thursday while Muthuraj has been arrested on Friday. The FIR has been booked against all the arrested officers under sections 302- murder, 342- punishment for wrongful confinement, and 201 - causing disappearance of evidence under the Indian Penal code.

On Friday, CBCID Inspector General Shankar said that the investigative agency has obtained new evidence and CCTV footage related to the case and it would also probe the Friends of Police on its involvement in the custodial deaths of the father and son duo. 

The Madras High Court Madurai Bench has directed CBCID to take the probe based on the autopsy reports of the victims and the confession from the woman police officer of Sathankulam station which revealed that the policemen of the station had brutally beaten and tortured Jayaraj and Bennicks in the station and the victims suffered multiple injuries and succumbed one after the other which spotlighted the police brutality in India.

Must-read: Sathankulam custodial deaths: After arresting police, CBCID to probe Friends of Police!