CHENNAI: Investigation into the murder of a relative of C Ve Shanmugam, at present State education minister, allegedly at the instance of PMK leader S Ramadoss, his son Anbumani Ramadoss, brother Srinivasan and other relatives and partymen in 2006, was transferred to the CBI by the Madras High Court on Saturday.It was unfortunate that the inertia on the part of the investigating agencies continued whenever high dignitaries were the alleged offenders. “Thus, when allegations are made against high ranking politicians, police officials, jail authorities, etc., the matter shall be entrusted to the CBI,’’ Justice D Hariparanthaman observed while disposing of a writ petition from Shanmugam.The judge directed the CBI to take up the case with immediate effect. The state police should hand over all the materials collected so far to the CBI and assist in conducting the probe. The CBI should complete its probe within four months, the judge added.In his petition, Shanmugam, who contested from the Tindivanam Assembly constituency in the elections held in May, 2006 under the AIADMK banner, submitted that when he was discussing the elections in front of his house in Tindivanam with his brothers and AIADMK partymen on May 8, 2006, a group of persons came in two vehicles and attacked them and caused damages to two cars. Muruganandham, brother-in-law of his brother CV Babu, was brutally attacked and he succumbed to injuries.After a legal battle for four years, Shanmugam filed the present petition in the High Court seeking transfer of the case to the CBI or CB CID. He contended that since the PMK was an ally of the then ruling DMK, the police officials were biased. The judge held that there was substantial force in the contention that the investigation was not conducted properly. The second statements of the eye-witnesses were recorded within a short span of time with a view to letting the accused Raghu, who led the murderous attack, go scot free. After the death of Raghu, the investigation proceeded on the line that he alone led the attack. The police had not seized the cellphones used by the accused. “Hence, the submissions of the petitioner that the investigation was not honest and impartial could not be brushed aside,’’ the judge said.“Even though the petitioner sought the transfer of the case to the CBI or to the CB CID, since the State police have failed to impartially investigate the matter, I am not inclined to entrust the same to the CB CID of the State government,’’ the judge added.
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