30-yr-old dies in custody, second case in 50 days

A 30-year-old man died while under police custody in Chennai on Sunday, barely 50 days after the city police came under fire for the custodial death of V Vignesh (25) at the hands of Secretariat colony police.

The victim, S Rajasekar of Alamathi near Red Hills, is a history-sheeter and has more than 20 cases against him, including an attempt to murder case, police said and claimed Rajasekar developed health complications while being investigated, leading to his death.

The top brass of the city police said investigations in this custodial death are transferred to CB-CID.

According to a senior police officer, Rajasekar was first secured by a special team of the Kodungayur police on Sunday morning for enquiry in a property theft case.

Since he complained of illness, he was sent to a private hospital and upon discharge in the evening was taken to a police booth in Kodungayur police station limits.

Police said he collapsed during the inquiry and was rushed to the Government Stanley GH, where he was declared dead on arrival. Police sources claimed he had a history of low BP (blood pressure).

A senior police officer said an FIR has been registered and a departmental inquiry has been initiated. Police have recommended a magisterial inquiry too. “If the autopsy results reveal lapses by the investigators, the FIR will be altered accordingly and action will be taken,” said City police commissioner, Shankar Jiwal.

In the custodial death of Vignesh, six city policemen were arrested by CB-CID last month.