Kochi: The state government has submitted in the High Court that there was no need for a CBI probe into the death of S.R. Sreejith of Varapuzha, allegedly due to torture in police custody. The government said the investigation by the Crime Branch was progressing well and was in the right direction. An official in the rank of IG has been entrusted with the investigation. All the main accused, including the ASI, have been arrested. Eight persons suspected to be involved in the case were either arrested or questioned.
The government also told the court that BJP leader A.N. Radhakrishnan was trying to implead in the case with political motives. The case has been posted for further hearing on May 22. Sreejith along with a few others was taken into custody in connection with the death of Vasudevan, 55, of Varapuzha. Vasudevan allegedly committed suicide after a group of persons attacked his house and assaulted him following an earlier clash in the area. Sreejith was arrested from his house by members of the Rural Tiger Force formed by the Aluva rural SP, and was taken to Varapuzha police station on April 8.
He died in a private hospital on April 9. The relatives of Sreejith say he died due to the police torture and was taken into custody on a mistaken identity as he was not involved in the attack on the house of Vasudevan. The case has snowballed into a major controversy with the Opposition parties demanding a CBI probe as the local police officials are the accused in the case.
