‘Custody torture’: Former leader of SFI seeks prosecution of two police officers

Kochi: A petition has been filed by K Jayakrishnan of Konni, Pathanamthitta, who was the district president of the Students Federation of India (SFI) in 2012, seeking criminal prosecution against two police officers, including Alappuzha DSP Madhu Babu, for allegedly torturing him in police custody. On Tuesday, the bench of Justice P V Kunhikrishnan directed the public prosecutor to obtain instructions from the state govt and adjourned the matter to Sept 30. In his petition, Jayakrishnan alleged that he was taken into custody on Jan 6, 2012, in connection with a protest march to the residence of the then revenue minister, and was brutally tortured by Madhu Babu, who was then circle inspector of Konni police station, and K Gopakumar, then sub-inspector. He claimed that he was beaten all over his body and subjected to pepper spray. Jayakrishnan further stated that although he had filed a private complaint before the magistrate court, the govt denied sanction for the prosecution of the officers. The district police chief, Pathanamthitta, had conducted an inquiry into the incident and recommended disciplinary proceedings against the officers. However, Madhu Babu approached the tribunal and secured an interim order stating that the inquiry report would not affect his promotion. Subsequently, in May 2017, the DGP passed an order keeping further action against Madhu Babu and Gopakumar, based on the inquiry report, in abeyance. Meanwhile, Madhu Babu approached HC challenging the magistrate court proceedings initiated on Jayakrishnan's private complaint and obtained a stay. Jayakrishnan alleged that despite several representations submitted to the state govt and the state police chief seeking criminal prosecution of the officers, no action has been taken.