The case of the custodial deaths of Jayaraj and Bennicks in Sathankulam, Thoothukudi has been attaining significant breakthroughs since the CB-CID special team pitched in and took over the probe. The Crime Branch has started its probe on Tuesday and in a day, it has arrested five police officers in connection to the custodial deaths and slapped murder charges against the officers under section 302 of IPC.

The arrested police officers include suspended Sathankulam Police Inspector Sridhar, Sub-Inspectors Balakrishnan, and Raghu Ganesh, Head Constable Murugan and constable Muthuraj of which Raghu Ganesh was arrested on Wednesday and he has been remanded under judicial custody till July 16th whereas the other officers were arrested on Thursday and they have been interrogated by the CBCID team in the office of Superintendent of Police Thoothukudi. 

According to the reports close to the developments, all arrested police officers would be produced before Thoothukudi district court on Thursday -July 2nd at 4.30 pm for remanding them under the judicial custody. The Madras High Court Madurai Bench has consented the probing team to produce the arrested officers at the Thoothukudi court. The High Court bench has resumed the hearing on Thursday amid crucial developments. 

The High court bench comprised of Justices PN Prakash and Pugalendhi has resumed the hearing of the case of the custodial deaths on Thursday, which it took under the suo motu cognizance. During the hearing, the bench commended the CBCID team and noted that the special team's investigation has shown that justice will prevail in the custodial deaths. 

The judges had spoken to the woman police officer who became eye witness to the case. She has divulged to the Kovilpatti Judicial Magistrate that the policemen had brutally tortured and beaten Jayaraj and Bennicks at the police station throughout the night of June 19, when the father and son were arrested and brought to the station. The woman police officer has been receiving solidarity across the state for being courageous to reveal the truth. 

The woman police officer said that she and her family are living under the fear that the policemen can torture them for giving confessions and becoming an eye witness for the case and against the policemen. The judges had spoken to the woman police officer over the phone during the hearing. The High court bench further advised the government to provide adequate safety and security for the woman officer and her family.

According to the report, the woman officer was provided with two police officers for her security and she was also given one month paid leave, based on her request. By noting down the current developments, the High Court bench has adjourned the case by stating that the detailed verdict will be pronounced later. The court has given additional powers to the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Thoothukudi district in the case of custodial deaths.

The High Court has strictly said that Tamil Nadu shouldn't witness such custodial deaths in the future. The recent developments were the sequel of the major breakthrough that has come after the arrest of five police officers connected to the case. The CBCID has been probing the case as per the directive of the High court despite the Tamil Nadu government has transferred the case to the CBI on Monday. 

The court has observed that the delay in the commencement of the CBI probe would lead to the tampering of the evidence in connection to the case following which the court consented CBCID probe based on the autopsy reports of the victims and the statement from the woman police officer which revealed that the father and son were brutally beaten by the policemen of Sathankulam due to which they succumbed one after the other.

Must read: Sathankulam custodial deaths: Inspector Sridhar and four other cops arrested, booked for murder!