Communal remarks: T P Senkumar arrested, released

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former state police chief T. P. Senkumar was arrested in connection with the case of allegedly hurting communal sentiments even as the forensic report was understood to have raised suspicion over the veracity of the audio records of the controversial interview. The crime branch team probing the case recorded his arrest on July 29 at the Cyber Police station where the case was registered. Since Mr Senkumar had earlier obtained anticipatory bail from High Court, he was released soon.  His statement was recorded by the CB earlier.

Meanwhile, a forensic examination of the mobile phone used by the weekly reporter to record the interview with him could not retrieve the audio file.  He had earlier told the investigation team that he deleted it as its storage capacity was so low.  Sources said that the forensic report also said a copy of the audio record in a CD given by the reporter to the investigation officer was also an edited one.  The forensic lab submitted the report to a local court here.  The probe team was likely to get the report this week and based on that a decision on further steps in the case would be taken. 

Police sources said it would be difficult to charge-sheet Mr Senkumar for the remarks on Love Jihad in the state and increasing Muslim population as those could be supported with reports and studies already done. The case against him was initiated on the basis of a petition filed by a couple of persons. Mr Senkumar had earlier received a reprieve in another case of derogatory remarks about the actor raped in Kochi during the same interview.  Thiruvananthapuram deputy commissioner of police P. N. Ramesh Kumar gave a factual report stating that Mr Senkumar made the remarks on a personal phone conversation and the reporter made it public without his consent.