Chennai: The First Additional Sessions Court had permitted IPS officer Prateep V Philip to wear the bloodstained cap and name badge that he wore on the night of the assassination of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Prateep on Thursday retired as the Director General of Police (Training)
According to a report in India Today, the blood-stained cap and name badge were taken from the site as evidence and were in CBI’s custody. Prateep had filed a petition before the court seeking permission to allow him to wear the cap and name badge for his retirement.
The court, according to the report, said that the petitioner’s cap and name badge could be returned to the petitioner for his interim custody on the election of his own bond of Rs 1 lakh and on the condition that both the items should be produced before the court on or before October 28.
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The report said, Prateep was a 1987-batch officer and had survived the bomb blast that took place on May 21, 1991, at Sriperumbudur as an assistant superintendent of police.
Speaking to India Today, Prateep said that the late prime minister’s body was lying akimbo with his face down and completely shattered while his face was covered with blood and he was going through the worst possible experience of his life. He recollected the incidents of how he was taken to hospital.
According to the report, the official said that he had waited 30 years to get back those personal souvenirs of defining moments in his life as they were in CBI custody.
In 2003, Prateep received the Prime Minister’s medal for meritorious service and in 2012, president’s medal for distinguished service.