The bench had on May 9 directed authorities to file a status report on the death of Palanisamy.
Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the panel of experts who conducted post mortem on the body of Palanisamy, who was working as a cashier in lottery baron Martin's establishment and died allegedly under mysterious circumstances in Coimbatore on May 4, to give a specific report with regard to two injuries found on the body.
A division bench comprising Justices C. V. Karthikeyan and Krishnan Ramasamy gave the directive on a habeas corpus petition filed by Rohin Kumar, son of the deceased Palanisamy.
The bench had on May 9 directed authorities to file a status report on the death of Palanisamy. The bench had also directed authorities to produce the RDO report and the video graph of the autopsy done on the body of Palanisamy.
Accordingly, when the case came up for hearing on Wednesday, the authorities produced the status report, RDO report and the post mortem report.
After going through the reports, the bench expressed its dissatisfaction and said, "Two injuries are found. No specific opinion is given whether it is ante-mortem or postmortem. Specific report has to be given expressing opinion regarding the said injuries".
The bench also directed the investigating officer to file a report with regard to preservation of the body.
The bench directed the counsel for the petitioner and the additional public prosecutor to address the court with regard to the scope of section 176 Cr.P.C. (Inquiry by Magistrate into cause of death).The bench posted to Thursday, further hearing of the case.
In his petition, Rohin Kumar alleged that his father aged 45 years was kept in illegal custody by the I-T officials on April 30 and he was interrogated by them. The I-T team continued their torture till May 1 and thereafter, his father was taken to Martin's office and there also his father was tortured. On April 2, his father was brought to home by the I-T officials. However, on April 3, again his father was taken into illegal custody and interrogated at Martin's office and brought back to home. Thereafter, his father left home to go to his office. But, office boy Selvam came home and informed him that his father did not turn up at the office. While he and his family members were searching for his father, Martin's advocate informed them that the detenue was available in Karamadai police station. When he rushed there, the police obtained his signature in dotted lines on a paper, wherein it was mentioned that his father had committed suicide. When he saw the body of his father, he noticed bleeding injuries on his face and head. It was a clear case of custodial torture and murder. Therefore, he gave a representation to the authorities to conduct re-postmortem and transfer the investigation to the CBCID. But, there was no response. Hence, he filed the present HCP, he added.
