No need for CBI: State on Periya

Kochi: The state government has filed an appeal before the division bench against the single bench ordering a CBI investigation into the Periya double murder case in Kasargod district in which two Youth Congress workers Sarath Lal and Kripesh were hacked to death, allegedly by CPM activists. The government has contended that the charge-sheet had already been submitted and there was no need for an investigation by a central agency.

The single bench has ordered a CBI probe into the case two weeks ago while disposing a petition filed by parents of Lal and Kripesh stating that the killing was part of conspiracy by CPM that calls for a probe by an impartial agency. The government however stated in its appeal that all accused in the case have been arrested and all aspects connected with the case including the conspiracy were probed by the crime branch police. The court posted the appeal for hearing on Tuesday.

The single bench in its order entrusting the probe to the CBI has castigated the police investigation and the charge-sheet submitted by the police. Stating that investigation has been shoddy the single bench observed that the accused is unlikely to be punished based on the present charge-sheet. The court has also observed that the probe team has not even recorded the statement of the forensic surgeon in time in such an important case. The police, court observed, prepared the charge-sheet based on the statement made by the first accused in the case.

The court has also castigated the DGP and the police for the delay in handing over the materials including the case diary to the CBI the other day. DySP Ananthakri-shnan of the Thiruvanan-thapuram unit of the CBI is presently in-charge of the investigation.