Sathankulam case: Bail plea dismissed

Madurai: Madras high court on Monday dismissed the bail plea of suspended inspector of police S Sridhar who was arrested in connection with the custodial deaths of P Jeyaraj and his son J Beniks at Sathankulam in Tuticorin district in 2020.
Justice G Ilangovan dismissed the bail petition filed by Sridhar who was arrested by the CBI. His three earlier bail petitions were dismissed by HC and his special leave petition was dismissed by the Supreme Court in 2021.
Sridhar stated that the trial court had examined 47 witnesses of the total 132 witnesses in this case.He stated that while it has taken nearly three years to complete the examination of these 47 witnesses, it would take more time to complete the examination of the remaining witnesses in this case.
During the course of hearing, the CBI submitted that if the petitioner is enlarged on bail, he would tamper with the witnesses and it would affect the prosecution case. Hence, the CBI strongly objected to the grant of bail to the petitioner.
Jeyaraj’s wife J Selvarani had also filed an intervening petition in this case and objected to the grant of bail to the petitioner.