HC seeks report from police

Kochi: A high court bench of Justice VG Arun on Thursday sought from the Pathanamthitta district police chief a report on the probe being conducted into the death of PP Mathai , a 40-year-old farm owner from Pathanamthitta, who was allegedly taken into custody from his home by forest officials on July 28th for destroying a CCTV camera near his farm.

His body was found in a well near his farm, 10km from his house, after a few hours. Deceased’s wife Sheeba sought a CBI probe in the case in high court. In the plea seeking a probe by the central agency, it is alleged that no action has been taken by Chittar police despite registering an FIR the same day. Though allegations were raised in the first information statement, the FIR was registered for unnatural death, the petition said, while alleging inefficient probe by a team led by DSP of special branch at Pathanamthitta.

During the hearing, the court asked prosecution why only a case for unnatural death was registered and directed Pathanamthitta district police chief to file a report. The court will hear the case again on August 21.

Meanwhile, Mathai’s family fears that delay in reporting the offence by the investigating officer to the concerned magistrate under CrPC 157 will weaken the case at the trial stage.