Cops promise thorough probe into bootlegger’s death in jail

Trichy: Amidst the protest over the death of a bootlegger in Trichy central prison on Sept 28, the district police said on Wednesday that subsequent investigation into his death will be based on the post-mortem report and findings of the judicial inquiry.

District superintendent of police V Varunkumar said in a statement that all mandated legal procedures are being meticulously followed in the investigation into the death of M Dravida Mani, 40, hailing from Gandhi Nagar in Palur village. This includes inquiry by the judicial magistrate, post-mortem by a team of doctors and videography of its proceedings. Mani was apprehended by Jeeyapuram police with 66 IMFL bottles at Mutharasanallur on September 26 and charged with illegally selling liquor. His accomplice, Sudhakar, managed to abscond. The statement said that after recording his confession and completing the necessary formalities, he was produced before judicial magistrate III, Trichy, who remanded him to judicial custody till Oct 10. He was interned at the central prison on September 26 after a comprehensive medical checkup at Jeeyapuram GH where his fitness was confirmed.

Stating that Dravida Mani developed severe health complications while in prison on September 28, police said that he received immediate first aid at the prison hospital with doctors referring him to MGMGH for further treatment. However, upon arrival at the hospital, duty doctors declared him dead. KK Nagar police, attached to Trichy city police, registered a case in this connection and a judicial magistrate conducted an inquest.

Meanwhile, his family members and relatives protested at the hospital from Saturday night till Sunday demanding a re-postmortem and a govt job for a family member. On Tuesday, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami demanded a proper investigation into his death in prison . The family is yet to receive the body as of Wednesday.