Madurai, Augt 17 — The Madras High Court's Madurai Bench on Monday ordered a magisterial inquiry into allegations that a man was assaulted by police personnel at the city's Chinthamani police station before his death.
The court also directed that the post-mortem examination of the deceased, Paramasivam, be conducted by a three-member team of senior forensic doctors.
The directions were issued while hearing a petition filed by his wife, Ayyammal, who sought an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death.
Ayyammal alleged that Paramasivam was assaulted by personnel at the Chinthamani police station on July 19.
According to her petition, the couple had visited the station in connection with a complaint arising from a dispute with their neighbours. She claimed that her husband was subjected to physical assault while at the police station and subsequently died.
Seeking a fair and transparent inquiry, she approached the High Court and requested measures to preserve evidence relating to the alleged incident.
Taking note of the seriousness of the allegations, the court ordered a judicially supervised inquiry by a magistrate. The inquiry is expected to examine the events at the police station and the circumstances that preceded Paramasivam’s death.
To ensure transparency in the medical examination, the court directed that three senior forensic doctors jointly conduct the autopsy. The findings of the post-mortem examination are likely to play an important role in determining the cause of death and whether the deceased had sustained injuries.
The High Court also appointed an advocate commissioner to inspect the Chinthamani police station. The commissioner has been asked to determine whether CCTV cameras were installed at the station at the time of the alleged incident and whether any of the cameras had subsequently been removed. The inspection is also expected to ascertain the availability and condition of surveillance equipment at the station. CCTV recordings, if available, could provide crucial evidence regarding Paramasivam’s presence at the police station and the treatment meted out to him.
The court’s directions are intended to secure medical and electronic evidence and ensure that the allegations are examined independently. The woman’s allegation against the police remains to be established through the magistrate's inquiry, forensic examination, and other evidence collected during the proceedings.