Engineer suicide: CB-CID witness to give confession statement today

MADURAI: A day after the bail plea of former minister S S (Agri) Krishnamoorthy was dismissed in a case related to the suicide of agriculture executive engineer S Muthukumarasamy, the CB-CID police on Thursday produced one of his personal assistants Poovaiah before the judicial magistrate court in Sankarankoil in Tirunelveli district as witness. Poovaiah will on Friday record his confessions and statements under Section 164 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
Regarding this, the investigation agency also filed an application before the magistrate K Muralitharakannan, who is likely to record his statements on Friday.
As per the Section, the magistrate may record confession or statement, made to him in the course of investigation and the same may also be recorded through audio-video electronic means. Since the case on hand is a sensitive one, Poovaiah’s statements will be recorded using audio-video method.
Muthukumarasamy committed suicide on February 20 by jumping in front of a moving train in Thatchanallur as he was allegedly under pressure from Krishnamoorthy and his associates over the appointment of seven drivers in Tirunelveli. It was alleged that the former minister’s personal assistants G Pandiyan and Pooviah had made phone calls to Muthukumarasamy.
Following his suicide, the CB-CID police arrested Krishnamoorthy and agriculture chief engineer M Senthil who have been lodged in the Palayamkottai Central Prison since April 5.
Since the arrest of the two, it was reported that the CB-CID police would arrest more people in the case. But, the police have not made any arrest after that.
Meanwhile, the former minister and the chief engineer, accused in the suicide case filed petitions individually seeking bail at the principal district and sessions court, Tirunelveli, which were dismissed.
During hearing of the Krishnamoorthy’s bail petition, the prosecution side told the court that witnesses are ready to give evidences and if the former minister was released on bail, he would influence them. On the basis of it, Krishnamoorthy’s bail petition was dismissed. In that backdrop, CB-CID police produced Poovaiah before the JM court.
It may be recalled that Senthil’s bail plea that is pending before the high court bench has been adjourned to April 29, while the former minister is yet to file another bail petition before the appropriate forum.