Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tirunelveli Range, S. Murugan has placed under suspension Inspector of Police of Nazareth police station T. Selvam for arresting four innocent Dalits in connection with the murder of a realtor while allowing the real culprits to escape from the clutches of law.
When Antony Pandian, a realtor from Varthagareddipatti under Thattapaarai police station limits in Tuticorin district, was murdered around 3 a.m. on October 29, 2013, along with his driver Shyam Raj while sleeping in the portico of his residence, Thattaparai police registered a case based on a complaint reportedly preferred by Pandian’s A. Ayyadurai.
Investigating Officer of this case and Inspector (in-charge) of Thattaparai police station, Selvam, who was the Inspector of neighbouring Pudukottai police station, arrested Yesudasan and his associates Sudalaimuthu alias Immanuel, Varadharajan and Paramasivan.
When the foursome, pleading innocence, filed a petition before the court, the case was handed over to D. Felix Suresh Peter, Inspector of Police of Puthiyamputhur police station, on November 16, 2013, to pursue the investigation.
Even as Mr. Felix intensified the probe, one Ulaganathan surrendered before Varthagareddipatti VAO Prem Sudhakar, saying that he had murdered Antony Pandian and Shyam Raj. As he was handed over to Mr. Felix, it led to the arrest of two more while a few more, all connected to the murder, surrendered before various courts in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts. After recording the confessional statements of 10 accused, Mr. Felix recovered the arms used in the double murder.
An enquiry was conducted by a DSP, who brought to light several flaws in the hasty arrest made by Selvam in a bid to settle the enmity he had developed with Yesudasan and others in a land deal.
