Thiruvananthapuram: The state cabinet on Wednesday decided to seek a CBI probe into the Nedumkandam custodial death case.
The relatives of victim Rajkumar had met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his Cabinet colleagues and Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala seeking a CBI probe. The Opposition had also demanded a CBI probe as police officers were involved in the case.
The relatives of Rajkumar had alleged that he was subjected to torture in custody from June 12 to 16, allegedly with the support of top police officers.
Rajkumar, 49, was held in connection with a financial fraud case by police officials of the Nedumkandam station on June 12 for four days. He died at the Peerumedu sub-jail. After the Crime Branch special investigating team confirmed that he was tortured brutally, the guilty police officials were suspended and subsequently arrested. Following this, the government announced a judicial probe into the incident.
A fresh autopsy by a team of forensic experts found that Rajkumar died due to complications of multiple blunt injuries on the body. It also found 22 new injuries which might have caused acute damage to the kidney and other organs. The nature of injuries indicated custodial torture.
