G Haridutt, the CBI investigating officer who set alarm bells ringing in the higher echelons of the Kerala police with his stinging report on the death in custody of murder-accused Sampath, has been found dead in his apartment.
Haridutt had repeatedly expressed fear to the Courts that he was being targeted by the higher ups for conducting a fair investigation. Haridutt complained of threats from senior police officers in Kerala and interference by his own superiors in the CBI.
The investigation into Sampath’s death was ordered and being monitored by the Kerala High Court after Sampath’s brother approached the judiciary claiming that the Kerala Police investigation into the custodial death was being scuttled from within the organization.
Haridutt has been found dead almost a year after the Court ordered the police and the CBI to provide adequate protection to the CBI officer, whose request in this regard “have fallen on deaf ears”.
Naming two officials, the Kerala High Court had said some senior officials of the CBI, including a joint director, had “interfered” in the investigation, in which two IPS officers are among the accused.
The court had said such “devious conduct” by the CBI officials was harming the reputation and credibility of the agency. The High Court had also warned that if there was any security lapse, the state and CBI would be held responsible.
Later in March, the CBI arrested four Kerala Police personnel, including a DYSP, in connection with the death of Sampath in 2010.
It arrested DYSP C K Ramachandran, Sub Inspectors P V Ramesh and T K Unnikrishanan and constable Shama Prasad.
In July last year, the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court issued a notice to the CBI seeking an explanation on why it was delaying the arrest of the two senior IPS officers who are also accused in the case.
