mathai

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has decided in principle to hand over the Chittar Mathai custodial death case to the CBI. The government will inform the high court that they don’t have any objection to the investigation. Mathai’s body is in the mortuary for the last 25 days. He died while in custody of the forest department. The government’s decision came at a time when Mathai’s wife’s plea is considered by the court.

District police chief will submit a report on his death in the high court today. Police chief K G Simon has prepared a detailed report containing the details of the probe, charges imposed, reason for death, post mortem report and legal advice. The accused forest officials will be added to the list of defendants only after the report is submitted.

The claim of the police is that if government officials with legal protection are arrested without more evidence then the investigating officers will have to go to the court. However, Mathai's family alleged that not including the forest officials to the list of defendants and not arresting them will pave the way for the accused to get anticipatory bail.