CHENNAI: Through two separate orders, the Madras High Court has awarded Rs. 3 lakh each to families of victims as compensation in two cases of custodial deaths. Both the orders were passed by Justice K. Raviraja Pandian.

In the first case, S. Indumathy of Mogappair in Chennai sought a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the custodial death of her husband, Selvaraj, a painter.

According to her, her husband was taken to the police station in connection with a civil transaction between her and a retail textile trader. Sub-Inspector Thangam took her husband to the J.J. Nagar Police Station. When she rushed to the police station, Ms. Indumathy saw her husband drenched in water and reclined on the wall. He was speechless. She was prevented by the police personnel from going near him.

Rs. 5 lakh sought

A Revenue Divisional Officer inquiry report said the death was not natural and that he died due to head injuries. It also found materials for the involvement of inspector Balasubramaniam and sun-inspector Thangam, besides constables Elumalai, Ravi and Chellappa.

Following the criminal proceedings, a trial court said the inspector was to pay Rs. 75,000 and the sub-inspector Rs. 50,000 as compensation to the victim's families.

The present petition prayed for a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh.

After Special Government Pleader P. Wilson told the court that Rs. 1 lakh was paid as ex gratia by the Government, Mr. Justice Raviraja Pandian directed the Government to pay another Rs. 2 lakh within eight weeks.

In the other case, the court ordered Rs. 3 lakh compensation to Mamanga Selvi whose husband Sadaiyan was taken to Senthurai police station by the Q Branch police in August 1997, only to be informed the next day that he had committed suicide on the station premises.

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