CBI to take over Sathankulam father-son duo custodial death case

Tamil Nadu government has officially agreed to transfer the probe into the custodial death of father-son duo, Jeyaraj and J Beniks, to the Central Bureau of Investigation. This comes after Madras High Court in its order on Monday observed that it is the policy decision of the state to transfer the case of the custodial death to CBI.

New Delhi:The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday issued a notification to enquire into the controversial custodial death of a father-son duo in Sathankulam police station at Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukkudi district.

The federal agency has taken up the case following the request of the Tamil Nadu Government.

P Jeyaraj and J Fenix (Bennicks) died after Sathankulam police took them to the Police Station as the duo allegedly opened their mobile shop after the permissible time during the lockdown.

As both died one after another while they were remanded in a prison, the matter went viral on social networks. Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and other celebrities across the globe had demanded justice for Jeyaraj and Fenix death.

The Madras High Court’s Madurai bench had taken suo-moto cognisance in this matter and ordered a detailed probe.

As the allegations were against the TN police, oppositions including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) demanded the government to assign CBI to investigate the murder.

After a widespread uproar from all the section of people including political leaders, actors, and Human Rights activists, TN CM Edappadi K Palaniswami announced that the case will be transferred to the CBI on June 30.

Besides, the MHC ordered CBCID – a different investigation agency of TN to take up the matter. The CBCID had arrested two Sub-Inspectors, One Inspector and a few other cops who handled Fenix and Jeyaraj in Sathankulam PS.

In this situation, the CBI has acknowledged that the federal agency will take up the matter on request of TN.

Tamil Nadu Government has also revealed that the state had approached Home Minister Amit Shah to direct CBI to inquire into this father-son duo’s custodial death case.

The state government’s move has drawn criticism as the CBI is not coming under the MHA and it is under MoS of Prime Minister Office.