The police on Tuesday informed the Kerala High Court that as many as eleven police officers, including former District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) A.V. George, were suspended and proceeded against departmentally in connection with the custodial death of Sreejith of Varapuzha.
In a statement filed in response to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) plea on the custodial death case, investigation officer George Cheriyan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, said Mr. George was thoroughly questioned by the Special Investigation Team probing the case. A special report was sent against Mr. George for the lapses committed by him in the formation of the Rural Tiger Force (RTF) and justifying its actions wrongfully. He was later placed under suspension.
The police further submitted that the RTF was unofficially formed on February 24, 2017, under the direct control of Mr. George following an actor assault case. The RTF consisted of 20 police personnel. It was divided into two squads — RTF 1 and RTF 2. While RTF 1 looked after the Aluva police subdivisions, the areas of RTF 2 came under the Perumbavoor and Muvattupuzha police subdivisions.
‘No scope for CBI probe’
The statement said that nine police officers were arraigned as accused and they were still in judicial custody in the custodial death case. The investigation was proceeding, steadily and honestly. Therefore, there was no scope for an investigation by the CBI at this stage.
The petition seeking the CBI probe in the case was filed by Akhila, wife of Srijith.