Chennai: In a major setback to the investigation into the custodial deaths of Sathankulam father-son duo Jayaraj and Benix, four CBI officials who are part of the special team have been reportedly tested positive for Covid-19.
While two officials were recently confirmed with coronavirus infection, two more have also been tested positive, sources said.
They added that a Sub-Inspector who is one of the accused in the sensational case has also been tested positive.
A Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in Madurai on Monday granted three days CBI custody of three more police personnel, arrested in connection with the custodial deaths of a father-son duo at Sathankulam in Thoothukudi district of Tamilnadu, last month.
The CBI Special Crime Unit-II, New Delhi probing the case, filed a petition before the CJM T V Hemanandakumar, seeking five days custody of Head Constable Saamadurai, constables Chelladurai and Veyil Muthu for inquiry.
When all the three, who were lodged in Madurai Central Prison were produced before the court, the CJM granted the CBI the custody of three policemen and directed the Investigating agency to produce them before the court
on 23 July evening.
Later, the CBI officials took them to the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) for medical checkup after which they were taken to the CBI office at Athikulam in the city for interrogation.
The CBI had earlier taken custody of five police personnel, including Sridhar, suspended Inspector and Station House Officer of the Sathankulam station, Sub-Inspectors Raghu Ganesh and Balakrishnan, and constables Murugan and Muthuraj.