States view sought on plea to monitor probe

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday sought the state government’s  view on a petition seeking a directive to the Director General of Police to monitor the inquiry into the death of V V Augustine, former Additional Sub-Inspector of Police, Crime Branch, Kottayam.Augustine was the first investigation officer and a witness in the Sister Abhaya murder case. Justice P S Gopinathan passed the order while considering a petition filed by Joji Moolekari of Athirampuzha seeking a directive to complete the investigation within a timeframe.The court had earlier directed the state to authorise an officer not below the rank of an Inspector General of Police to conduct an investigation. According to the petitioner, even after a period of two years, no progress has been made due to inaction on the part of the police. Augustine was found dead with his veins cut within the compound of his house in Kottayam. A suicide note was also found near the body which read, “The CBI is responsible for my death”. His death came a day after the CBI obtained a statement from him regarding the case.  Augustine, who was the ASI at the Kottayam West police station at the time of Abhaya’s death, was the first policeman to reach the spot after the nun’s body was found in the well of Pius 10th convent, Kottayam, on March 27, 1992. It was he who conducted the inquest and prepared the FIR in the case. He was involved in the initial phase of investigation before the case was handed over to the Crime Branch and later to the CBI. The petitioner also sought a directive to the DGP to submit a progress report on the case.