While the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been probing the custodial deaths of Jayaraj and Bennicks in Sathankulam, Thoothukudi, the Tamil Nadu government has said that the Crime Branch- Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) will be investigating another custodial death of 25-year-old Mahendran in Sathankulam.

The developments around the Mahendran's death case have emerged following the custodial deaths of Jayaraj and Bennicks. According to the reports,  Mahendran has died on June 13 - ten days before the death of Jayaraj and Bennicks, due to the police brutality he faced after taken into the illegal custody. Mahendran's family members have accused Sub-Inspector of Sathankulam Raghuganesh and Inspector Sridhar behind his death. 

These two cops are among the prime accused in the custodial deaths of Jayaraj and Bennicks and they have been lodged in Madurai Central prison. The probe into the custodial deaths of Jayaraj and Bennicks was initially done by the CBCID during which Mahendran's mother Vadivu had moved her petition to the Madras High Court on July 8. 

In her petition, Vadivu said that Raghuganesh and Sridhar were behind the death of Mahendran and she sought a directive from the court to initiate strong action against the responsible officers. Upon hearing the plea, the High court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to respond by July 21. 

Based on the directive, the Tamil Nadu government has responded back to the High Court on Tuesday - July 21 in which it has asserted that the probe into the death of Mahendran will be taken over by the CBCID. According to the reports, Mahendran was picked up by the police from his grandmother's house in Pappankulam in Tirunelveli district on May 20.

The police had taken him to investigate the murder case in which his elder brother has been named as the accused. However, he was brutally beaten and tortured by the police officers in the prison and he was sent home after four days. He has sustained multiple injuries and he kept unspoken about the police brutality for over two weeks. He has divulged the fact to his mother.

On June 11, he was taken to the government hospital in Thoothukudi after his health worsened. However, he died due to the injuries on June 13. His mother Vadivu relucted in filing the case as the family had been threatened by the police. However, she has moved her petition after the similar custodial deaths of Jayaraj and Bennicks had sparked massive nationwide outrage.