Lawyer alleges cop who probed son's death has murky past

CHENNAI: The investigation into the murder of 24-year-old Sathish Kumar, son of advocate R Sankarasubbu, took a new twist on Tuesday. An additional affidavit was filed by the lawyer stating that Suresh Babu, inspector of Thirumangalam police station who was in charge of the investigation before the case was handed over to CBI, had a criminal background.
Arguing on the lawyer's behalf, S Prabhakaran said Suresh Babu had committed various"omissions and commissions" on the instructions of an"invisible hand". Suresh Babu had attempted to introduce the possibility of suicide by claiming in his inquest report on June 16 that two blades were recovered from the victim. Counsel submitted these were not found at the time when the body was recovered and that Suresh Babu had procured a letter from a private practitioner to the effect that Sathish Kumar might have had suicidal tendencies.
“He has three murder cases registered against him. His father and brother are history-sheeters. We have given investigators the particulars about Suresh Babu's criminal background but we don't know why they are keeping quiet. Why has such a bad person been posted in the police department?" Prabhakaran said. The petitioner sought a custodial interrogation of the officer.
N Chandrasekaran, special public prosecutor for CBI cases, submitted that Suresh Babu was among those who were questioned and interrogated on July 6 and 7. A status report was submitted by the CBI to the court .
However, the division bench comprising Justices C Nagappan and P R Shivakumar said,"Whatever it may be. Now you (the CBI) are satisfied that it is not a suicide but a homicide. Even after coming to the conclusion, why are you not able to crack the case? If you are not able to crack the case, it shows either inefficiency or your unwillingness to act. We leave it to you." The court said they wanted to see"positive action", and the matter was adjourned to August 2 to enable to CBI to act on the declarations in the counter-affidavit.