Chennai: Refusing to stop the CB-CID from conducting investigation into the suicide of R. Vishnupriya, Tiruchengode DSP, the Madras high court has said it will monitor the probe and ordered notice to authorities and police.
Justice P.N. Prakash, before whom a writ petition by M. Ravi, father of the DSP, seeking a CBI investigation, came up for hearing, said the investigation done by CB-CID, which was an elite force, would be affected at this stage if halting /transferring the investigation was effected.
In the petition, Ravi submitted that his daughter, prior to her demise had informed him that SP Senthilkumar and DIG, Salem, Vidhya Kulkarni had asked her to detain persons not connected with the death of Gokulraj.
Vishnupriya was found dead in a standing posture. The post-mortem on her body was conducted against our wishes. Even after transfer of the case to CB-CID, the duo were influencing the investigation team.
The team led by CB-CID Superintendent of Police, Nagajothi, had not collected evidence from Vishnupriya’s friend and DSP, Uma Maheswari, who also alleged that Vishnupriya was harassed by the police officials.
He added: “The entire investigation is an eyewash. The police are erasing evidence.” In order to preserve evidence and to prevent terrorising of witnesses, he sought transfer of the case to CBI.
Petitioner’s counsel, P. Wilson, insisted on CBI enquiry alleging that she had not committed suicide and the present investigating officer, Rajan, had worked under the Namakkal SP, Senthilkumar, who was accused of pressurising Vishnupriya.
The judge said “if you suspect the police in each and every case and transferred the cases outside, then we have to invite police team from Scotland.” The judge said the CBI personnel will have problems in the local language. He asked the petitioner and counsel to wait for the report from forensic department. The judge said this is a crucial period.
Transferring the case would affect the team from collecting evidence, which was vital. Vishnupriya was a young and bright police officer. The court was concerned about her death. Hence, the court was ordering notice to the authorities returnable by four weeks.
