Kochi, Wednesday, December 22, 2010: The Kerala High Court today directed CJM Court to monitor the CBI probe in connection with the Puthur custodial death.

The High Court ordered CBI to submit report on progress in investigation every three weeks in High Court and the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court.

Earlier report:-

The first accused in the sensational Puthur Sheela murder case Sampath (26) died in police custody on March 29 morning. He was arrested along with two other accused from Coimbatore and brought to Palakkad on March 29 evening.

According to the police Sampath developed chest pain at 11.30 p.m and was taken to Palakkad District Hospital where he was declared dead. The report of the post-mortem examination conducted on Sampath, says the cause of death is “due to internal bleeding into tissues and on the brain due to blunt injuries sustained.”

The report adds, “There were 63 injuries on his body and 25 of them were below the hip. His ribs no. 6, 8 and 9 were broken due to the use of third degree methods.” The injuries were due to punching with hard objects, it says. His head was hit against a rough surface or object. The report says Sampath died around 3 p.m. But the police had said that he died around 11 p.m.

The Crime Branch on August 13 handed over the case diary of the custodial death of Sampath, the prime accused in the Puthur Sheela murder case, to the CBI. The Crime Branch has handed over the case diary following the Supreme Court’s observation backing High Court’s verdict.