Newsbytes
  • India
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
  • Inspirational
  • Career
  • Bengaluru
  • Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Videos
  • Visual Stories
  • Reviews
  • Phone Reviews
  • Fitness Bands Reviews
  • Speakers Reviews
  • Find Cricket Statistics
Hindi
More
In the news
Enforcement Directorate (ED)
ITR Deadline
Coronavirus India
Coronavirus Cases In India
Money Laundering Case
Sidhu Moose Wala
Newsbytes
Hindi
Newsbytes
User Placeholder

Hi,

Logout


India
Business
World
Politics
Sports
Technology
Entertainment
Auto
Lifestyle
Inspirational
Career
Bengaluru
Delhi
Mumbai
Videos
Visual Stories
Reviews
Phone Reviews
Fitness Bands Reviews
Speakers Reviews
Find Cricket Statistics

More Links
  • Videos

Download Android App

Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
 
Home / News / India News / Tamil Nadu custodial deaths: Cops allegedly harassed judicial team
India

Tamil Nadu custodial deaths: Cops allegedly harassed judicial team

Tamil Nadu custodial deaths: Cops allegedly harassed judicial team
Written by Shalini Ojha
Jul 01, 2020, 01:16 am 4 min read
Tamil Nadu custodial deaths: Cops allegedly harassed judicial team

A magistrate appointed by the Madras High Court to probe the deaths of a father-son duo in police custody in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin was allegedly harassed by cops, IE reported on Tuesday. Kovilpatti Judicial Magistrate Bharathidasan wrote to Madras HC that the hostility led him to stop the probe mid-way on Sunday. He claimed the cops tried to intimidate the team. Here's what happened.

Backstory
Deaths of father-son duo sparked outrage; family demanded punishment

The killings of 62-year-old P Jayaraj and his 31-year-old son J Bennix has led to nationwide anger, and the call for police reforms has gotten louder. On June 19, the father was picked up and taken to Sathankulam Police station for keeping his shop open after the designated curfew time. Consequently, Bennix went to check on his father but was held.

Torture
Both Jayaraj and Bennix were brutally beaten, sodomized

In the station, they were beaten with lathis and allegedly sodomized. The next morning, they were taken to Sathankulam Government Hospital. There, Jayaraj and Bennix bled profusely and changed clothes at least thrice, the family alleged. Despite the grave wounds, they were remanded to judicial custody at Kovilpatti Sub Jail. On June 22, Bennix died, and hours later his father too breathed his last.

Findings
Magistrate confirmed the torture allegations to HC

As the details of the deaths led to protests in Tamil Nadu, HC took suo motu cognizance and appointed a judicial team for an impartial probe. Magistrate Bharathidasan, in his note to HC, confirmed the torture allegations, citing witnesses. He told the blood-stained lathis and the table, where Jayaraj and Bennix were made to lie down, were wiped, in an attempt to erase the evidence.

What happened
Cops didn't acknowledge magistrate's presence inside station

When Bharathidasan sought the lathis, the cops initially showed reluctance but later obliged. According to the IE report, the magistrate reached the police station around 12:45 pm, but two cops — ASP D Kumar and DSP Prathapan — didn't even acknowledge him. Kumar "flexed his muscles" instead. When he asked for the daily register, the two officers expressed their displeasure through their tones.

Threat
You cannot do anything here, one constable told the magistrate

Bharathidasan reported that the team first called Constable Maharajan for interrogation. He seemed scared in the beginning but subsequently came close to the magistrate and muttered, "You cannot do anything here". The constable changed his statements too. After saying his lathi was at his native place, he claimed it was at his police quarters. "Finally he said he has no lathi," Bharathidasan's note read.

Details
Reportedly, one constable "ran away", another feared repercussions

Just as Maharajan's interrogation was underway, another constable "ran away" when asked about his lathi. Bharathidasan said head constable Revathi, who was present at the station on June 19, agreed to give a statement only after she was assured of protection. In fact, while the judicial team was inside the station, policemen, who were outside, hurled abuses at them.

CCTV
CCTV footage is erased every day, judicial team told HC

Notably, the judicial team included experts who could download the CCTV footage, deemed as crucial evidence. However, the team learned that the system was configured in a way that data is deleted every day. Faced with rude behavior, the team returned, leaving the probe unfinished. After Bharathidasan's report, HC initiated criminal contempt action against ASP Kumar, DSP Prathapan, and Constable Maharajan.

Order
Three cops were summoned, HC not averse to transfer either

HC has also directed the district collector to give revenue officers the responsibility of Sathankulam station. The trio was also summoned by Madras High Court. Not only this, but the court also directed the state government to transfer the cops for a fair probe. Earlier, the bereaved family had expressed faith in the judiciary, putting it on an equal pedestal as God.

Share this timeline
Facebook
Whatsapp
Twitter
Linkedin
Shalini Ojha
Shalini Ojha
Twitter
A mathematics graduate, I handle the national desk. Always looking for items to read, I started off as an entertainment beat writer and made the switch three years into my career. My talents include breaking news and being on top of trending topics.
Latest
Tamil Nadu
Madras High Court
Tuticorin
Coronavirus
Latest
India beat West Indies in 5th T20I, win series 4-1
India beat West Indies in 5th T20I, win series 4-1 Sports
Premier League 2022-23, City outclass West Ham 2-0: Key stats
Premier League 2022-23, City outclass West Ham 2-0: Key stats Sports
'Prey': Exciting facts to Easter eggs, here's everything we know
'Prey': Exciting facts to Easter eggs, here's everything we know Entertainment
Here are 5 spiritual books to gift your parents
Here are 5 spiritual books to gift your parents Lifestyle
'The Sandman': Netflix explains reason behind show's skewed aspect ratio
'The Sandman': Netflix explains reason behind show's skewed aspect ratio Entertainment
Tamil Nadu
Meet scientist Nallathamby Kalaiselvi, India's first woman to head CSIR
Meet scientist Nallathamby Kalaiselvi, India's first woman to head CSIR India
Tamil Nadu: 27 get life term for Dalit triple murder
Tamil Nadu: 27 get life term for Dalit triple murder India
IIT Madras canteen worker arrested in student sexual assault case
IIT Madras canteen worker arrested in student sexual assault case India
ITBP DG Sanjay Arora is new Delhi Police commissioner
ITBP DG Sanjay Arora is new Delhi Police commissioner Delhi
Tamil Nadu suicides: 5th student ends life in 2 weeks
Tamil Nadu suicides: 5th student ends life in 2 weeks India
More News
Madras High Court
Tamil Nadu suicide case: 2 teachers held, repeat autopsy ordered
Tamil Nadu suicide case: 2 teachers held, repeat autopsy ordered India
Removal of Mangalsutra by wife causes husband mental cruelty: Court
Removal of Mangalsutra by wife causes husband mental cruelty: Court India
AIADMK tussle: EPS elected as party's interim general secretary
AIADMK tussle: EPS elected as party's interim general secretary Politics
TN suicide case: Supreme Court refuses to stay CBI probe
TN suicide case: Supreme Court refuses to stay CBI probe India
Lavanya suicide: HC issues directive to person who recorded video
Lavanya suicide: HC issues directive to person who recorded video India
More News
Tuticorin
Rajinikanth summoned by judicial commission probing 2018 anti-Sterlite protests
Rajinikanth summoned by judicial commission probing 2018 anti-Sterlite protests India
Kanimozhi sparks language debate, Congress supports her, BJP smells campaign
Kanimozhi sparks language debate, Congress supports her, BJP smells campaign Politics
This IAS officer set up cafe run by disabled persons
This IAS officer set up cafe run by disabled persons India
After Ramdev, Jaggi Vasudev supports Sterlite plant
After Ramdev, Jaggi Vasudev supports Sterlite plant India
6 held for violence in Tuticorin anti-Sterlite-protests detained under NSA
6 held for violence in Tuticorin anti-Sterlite-protests detained under NSA India
More News
Coronavirus
How long does immunity last after COVID-19?
How long does immunity last after COVID-19? Technology
#NewsBytesExplainer: Why experts believe 4th COVID-19 wave is not coming
#NewsBytesExplainer: Why experts believe 4th COVID-19 wave is not coming India
COVID-19: India logs 7,584 fresh cases, 24 more fatalities
COVID-19: India logs 7,584 fresh cases, 24 more fatalities India
COVID-19: India logs 3,303 new cases; 39 more deaths
COVID-19: India logs 3,303 new cases; 39 more deaths India
COVID-19 XE variant reported by Gujarat; detected in 67-year-old man
COVID-19 XE variant reported by Gujarat; detected in 67-year-old man India
More News
Next News Article
Next News Article

Love India news?

Subscribe to stay updated.

India Thumbnail
India News Business News World News Politics News Sports News Technology News Entertainment News Auto News Lifestyle News Inspirational News
Career News Bengaluru News Delhi News Mumbai News Mukesh Ambani Indian Premier League (IPL) Karnataka Samsung Xiaomi West Bengal
Bihar Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Haryana Narendra Modi Arvind Kejriwal Tamil Nadu Gujarat Yogi Adityanath YouTube
Instagram Hollywood News Uttar Pradesh Kerala Netflix Bollywood News Mamata Banerjee Maruti Suzuki Rahul Gandhi Elon Musk
Shah Rukh Khan Chelsea FC OPPO Akhilesh Yadav Indian Cricket Team Apple Manchester United Salman Khan Cryptocurrency OnePlus
Amitabh Bachchan ICC Women's World Cup Vivo India vs Sri Lanka
About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive IPL 2022 Schedule IPL 2022 Points Table Find Cricket Statistics
Follow us on
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube
All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2022