As the Crime Branch -Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) has taken over the probe of custodial deaths of Jayaraj and Bennicks in Sathankulam, Thoothukudi, the investigative agency has poured major developments in the case and will be pouring more breakthroughs in the probe as the agency has been preparing to investigate all the directions connected to the case, which has spotlighted police brutality in India.

The probing team has arrested four police officers in connection to the case so far and they have been booked for murder and had, on Thursday, lodged under judicial custody for 15 days in Perurani district jail in Thoothukudi. While addressing the reporters on the development on Friday, Inspector General of CB-CID Shankar said that the four police officers have been booked under section 302- murder, 342- punishment for wrongful confinement, and 201 - causing disappearance of evidence under the Indian Penal code.

By denying the allegations that the state ruling party has been interfering with the probe, Shankar asserted that the probe into the custodial deaths has been carried out on fair and unbiased grounds. Responding to the question on the possibilities of booking more people in the case, the Inspector General said the FIR has been booked against the officers and it's the first information report and the end of the investigation.

Shankar further stated that the probe has been carried out by 12 teams of the agency which have been investigating the case in all directions and revealed that the CB-CID would be probing the involvement of the Friends of Police in the custodial deaths of the father and son. He added that there have been claims on the role of the Friends of Police and such claims would be inspected before initiating the probe on them.

He further added that the probing team has obtained new CCTV footage in connection to the case from various places and it will be put through the analysis. According to the reports, the CBCID has arrested four police officers so far while the other officer Muthuraj, who has a direct connection to the case, has been at large and his name has been spelled under 'wanted list' on Friday. 

Muthuraj has been at large and responding to this development, IG Shankar said "We are searching for him and we will arrest him soon. It's just one day since we started the probe and we have arrested so many people involved in the case and we will arrest Muthuraj. According to the reports, the CBCID has arrested four officers so far- Suspended Inspector of Sathankulam Sridhar, Sub-Inspectors Raghu Ganesh, and Balakrishnan, and Head Constable Murugan.

Raghu Ganesh was arrested on Wednesday while the rest three were arrested on Thursday and booked for murder based on the autopsy report and statement of a woman police officer which revealed that they had brutally tortured and beaten Jayaraj and Bennicks throughout the night of June 19 and the father and son had suffered multiple injuries due to which they succumbed one after the other.

Must read: Sathankulam deaths: Locals celebrate as the arrested cops lodged under judicial custody!