Kochi, Wednesday, 4 February 2010: The Kerala High Court has ordered a fresh probe into the death of the key witness former SI VV Augustine’s death in the sister Abhaya murder case.

The Court observed that, there is mystery surrounding in the death of former policeman VV Augustine who led the inquest proceedings of sister Abhaya. The Court also added that, the IG level investigation should not affect the ongoing CBI probe.

The Division bench’s ruling came after a plea demanding for a fair investigation into the death of former policeman was filed.
Augustine, the retired police sub-inspector who was tipped to be named an accused was found dead on the premises of his house at Changanassery in Kottayam on 25 November 2008.

V V Augustine, 64, who slashed his wrist, left behind a note that held the CBI responsible for his death. Augustine, who was the first investigating officer (IO) in the case and who had prepared the first information report about the nun’s death, was in the dock for destroying evidence in the case.

Augustine was also part of the state police team, which claimed that the nun’s death was a suicide. Several CBI teams had questioned Augustine and at a time there had been a reported attempt to make the retired cop an approver in the case.