Tuticorin custodial deaths: Two Sathankulam cops who misbehaved with magistrate get new posting

Less than 24 hours of being put in the waitlist and being charged with criminal contempt of court, two cops of Sathankulam Police Station, where the alleged police torture on Jeyaraj and Beniks took place, have got new posting.

The Additional Superintendent of Police (ADSP) D Kumar is now ADSP prohibition enforcement wing, Nilgiris district and DSP Parthiban is now DSP Anti land grabbing special cell, Pudhukottai.

The two cops are facing charges of criminal contempt of court after they allegedly misbehaved with Kovilapatti Judicial magistrate Bharatidasan who was probing the custodial deaths of Jeyaraj and Beniks.

In the report, the magistrate stated that the two officials did not salute or greet the magistrate as per protocol. Magistrate Bharatidasan also had stated, “I was not greeted or saluted to when I came to the police station. D Kumar was rather showing a body language which was an attempt to showcase his physical strength, with an attempt to intimidate us. He was also instructing his subordinates in a tone somewhat used to threaten.”

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High court was hearing the criminal contempt case against the three police officers – ADSP D Kumar, DSP C Parthiban, and Constable Maharaja.

The court was told that the officials were under stress which was the reason behind the ill behaviour towards the magistrate. The court further gave four weeks for the officials to submit an explanation and the contempt case will be heard by the court.