No judicial probe into Sasiperumal’s death: Madras High Court

CHENNAI: Refusing to order a judicial probe into the death of social activist K. Sasiperumal on a cellphone tower during anti-liquor agitation in Kanyakumari district, the Madras high court has directed the deputy inspector-general of police, Tirunelveli and superintendent of police, Kanyakumari district, to monitor and supervise the investigation.

Justice M.M. Sundresh before whom a petition filed by Sasiperumal’s son, S.Vivek, came up for hearing, directed the investigation officer to complete the probe in three months.

The petitioner Vivek sought a judicial probe by a retired judge. Investigation is still pending. The deceased was seen at the top of the tower in full public view on July 31.

The judge said considering the fact, no interference is required. The deceased reached the top of the tower as against Jeyaseelan, another protestor, who stopped midway.

The photograph also shows that the deceased was carrying a rope and trying to place it over his head. Whether it is meant for his protection or otherwise is a matter for investigation. There is no material to conclude there would be any real likelihood of bias or reasonable apprehension of it.

The judge said “Though the ultimate object of the deceased may have been laudable, the question for appointing an inquiry does not arise on the facts of the case, especially, when it was the deceased, who chose the mode of protest.”