HC turns down plea for CBI probe into custodial death

The Kerala High Court today turned down a plea for CBI probe into a case of custodial death, expressing satisfaction over the investigation by the state police in it.

Justice K Abraham Mathew turned down the plea by the victim's wife, concurring with the prosecution arguments that the police probe was on right track and noting that a total of nine policemen were arrested and put on the trial for their alleged roles in the case.

The bench also noted that besides putting the nine policemen on trial and proceeding against them departmentally, the state police had also suspended two others, including former Ernakulam rural police chief, and had initiated departmental proceeding against them.

The plea had been made by the wife of victim S R Sreejith, who had died of alleged custodial torture by police on April 9.

In her petition, the victim's wife Akhila had alleged lapses in the police investigation into her husband's 'custodial death.'