Tamil Nadu Govt To Transfer Probe Into Father-Son Duo's Custodial Death To CBI, 'Waiting For HC's Nod'

The deaths of P Jayaraj and his son Bennix, who became victims of alleged police torture, have triggered massive outrage, leading to the suspension of four policemen

New Delhi:  Amid the furore over the death of a father-son duo in Tuticorin allegedly due to police torture on June 23, the Tamil Nadu government on Sunday decided to transfer the probe into the case to the CBI. “Tamil Nadu government has decided to transfer to CBI probe into the death of father-son duo in Tuticorin following alleged police torture,” Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami was quoted as saying by PTI. ALSO READ|India’s George Floyds: How The Death Of Father And Son In Judicial Custody Has Flared Outrage In Tamil Nadu “After getting approval from Madras High Court the case will be transferred to CBI,” he said. What happened in Tuticorin? P Jayaraj and his son Fenix Emmanuel(Bennix) owned a mobile phone shop in Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu. They were arrested by the police on June 19 for keeping their shop open beyond the permitted hours. According to a report by India Today, there was a 15-minute delay in shutting down the shop. The report also said that it was Jayaraj who was arrested first and later when his son went to the police station to enquire about him, he was arrested too. The duo was kept in the Sathankulam police station where they were brutally beaten and tortured. Some media reports have also said that they were subjected to sexual torture and there were injuries to their rectums. They were later taken to the hospital in Kovilpatti where Jayaraj died on June 22  and Fenix on June 23. What action has been taken? Even as two FIRs have been filed, no officer has been booked for murder charges. Following the outrage and protests, four police officers including two sub-inspectors have been placed under suspension. The station inspector has been transferred. A judicial inquiry is in progress, the post mortem report has been submitted to the Madras High Court in a sealed cover, and the court is waiting for a report from police. Rajnikanth Condoles Death Top Tamil actor Rajinikanth has conveyed his condolences to the family of a father-son duo in Tuticorin. The superstar spoke to P Jayaraj's widow over the phone and conveyed his heartfelt condolences, the actor's publicist said in a tweet on Sunday.