The Crime Branch of Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) on Wednesday arrested three more cops in connection with the alleged custodial deaths of a father-son duo at a Tamil Nadu police station.
Sub Inspector Balakrishnan and constables Muthuraj and Murugan were arrested by the investigation agency on charges of murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.
The total number of arrests so far in the case is now four. Earlier, another sub-inspector Ragu Ganesh, who was already in suspension, was arrested.
An FIR filed in this case names six cops of the Sathankulam Police Station. They are accused of assaulting the father-son duo who died in police custody.
The Tamil Nadu government on Monday issued an order to transfer the case registered in Kovilpatti East Police Station to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for investigation
The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Tuesday heard the case and directed Thoothukudi Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Anil Kumar and the CB-CID to take up the investigation.
Jayaraj (59) and his son J Benicks (31), were arrested on June 19 and lodged in Kovilpatti sub-jail for keeping their mobile phone shop in the Sathankulam main bazaar area open during a curfew imposed during coronavirus lockdown.
Jayaraju and Benicks were admitted to the Kovilpatti government hospital on June 22. While the son died on the same night, the father breathed his last on June 23 morning.
According to reports, two senior Inspectors have been suspended while departmental action is also being taken against two chief guards of the jail.
On Wednesday CB-CID K Inspector General of Police K Shankar and his team arrived in Thootukudi and conducted their inquiries.
(With ANI inputs)
