The CB-CID has so far registered three cases against Balveer Singh, but the suspended ASP has not been arrested.
Balveer Singh (left), and one of the victims showing his injury. (Supplied)
The Crime-Branch Crime Investigation Department (CB-CID) of the Tamil Nadu Police, investigating the Ambasamudram custodial torture case, has booked the suspended Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Balveer Singh under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Based on the complaint given by a 19-year-old Dalit boy, a native of Papanasam who was subjected to custodial torture by the suspended ASP, the CB-CID booked the IPS officer under Sections 3(1) (R), 3 (2) (V), 3 (2) (V.a) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) and also Section 75 of Juvenile Justice Act of 2015.
According to CB-CID sources, they have also booked Balveer Singh in another case based on a complaint lodged by an autorickshaw driver named Vedhanarayanan of Vickramasingapuram, who lost his teeth during the “interrogation” by the ASP.
Meanwhile, the CB-CID has summoned the victims, including the Dalit boy, to appear before the investigating officer with the medical records on 8 May.
Earlier, the police had filed an FIR against Singh based on the complaint by one E Subhash of KTC Nagar in Palayamkottai, under Sections 506 (1) (criminal intimidation), 323 (voluntarily causes hurt), 324 (voluntarily hurting by using a dangerous weapon) and 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by using a dangerous weapon) of the Indian Penal Code.
The CB-CID has so far registered three cases against Balveer Singh, but the suspended ASP has not been arrested.
An officer, who is a part of the CB-CID team investigating the case, told South First that it was initially concentrating on the investigation of the case and recording the statements of the complainants and the victims.
“Though we have the prima facie in the case, we need substantial evidence to prove the offence and establish guilt in the court of law,” he said.
He added that the team would summon the suspended ASP for an inquiry after the investigation with the victims. “Based on the inquiry, the officer could be arrested,” he said.
When asked about the need for arrest in such cases when the accused officer is influential, the officer said, “As per the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs, prior permission of the state government is required for arresting an IPS officer, except in cases of red-handed offences, serious offences, or when the officer is absconding.”
He added: “Balveer Singh is only suspended, but he is still an IPS officer and was not terminated from service.”
On 19 April, DGP Sylendra Babu transferred the case to the CB-CID for investigation, based on the recommendation of the senior IAS official P Amudha, who conducted a high-level inquiry with victims who were subjected to custodial torture at the hands of Balveer Singh.
On 26 March, a group of victims circulated a video on social media claiming that they were attacked by the ASP while in police custody.
In the video, they stated that the ASP plucked the teeth of some and crushed the private parts of others during interrogation.
Subsequently, District Collector KP Karthikeyan ordered an inquiry and Balveer Singh was suspended on 27 March.
May 04, 2024
May 04, 2024
May 04, 2024
May 03, 2024
May 03, 2024
May 01, 2024
