Sampath case: New probe team announced

KOCHI: A new team, headed by Chennai Additional SP Jayakumar, would investigate the sensational Sampath custodial death case.The decision regarding the appointment was taken by the CBI headquarters in New Delhi. However, the appointment will take effect only after it is being approved by the court.The team has been formed following the unnatural death of ASP Haridath, who was probing the controversial case.The Kerala High Court and the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court have been monitoring the probe into the Sampath murder case. The High Court had earlier directed the CBI to notify any change in the investigation team. “The first chargesheet regarding the investigation has already been filed before the CJM Court. Now, the new team will have to prepare the supplementary chargesheet. The new team will focus on the Sampth custodial death case alone and will not probe into the death of Haridath,” said highly-placed CBI officials.The investigation into the Sampth custodial death case was in the final stage when the investigation officer Haridath allegedly committed suicide. The team had submitted 26 status reports before the High Court.Haridath went to the CBI headquarters in New Delhi once to discuss the supplementary chargesheet. Though he was asked to appear before the CBI headquarters once again, he sent the documents instead of appearing in person. Nevertheless, his suicide on March 15 had raised many an eyebrow. There were reports that he was under tremendous pressure from certain quarters. In the suicide note, the names of two CBI officials, one advocate and a magistrate, were mentioned. Following which the police had obtained permission from the court to interrogate the Magistrate, who is a District Judge now. Meanwhile, another petition filed by Murukesan, brother of Sampath, will come up for hearing before the Ernakulam CJM Court on Monday.