Swathi murder: 3-day police custody for Ramkumar; doc says 'he's mentally stable'

Chennai: The XIV Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Egmore, on Wednesday granted three day police custody of P. Ramkumar, 24, the suspect, in techie Swathi murder case. The woman was murdered at Nungambakkam railway station on June 24.

S. Gopinathan, XIII Metropolitan Magistrate, Egmore at Allikulam, directed the police to produce Ramkumar before him Saturday evening in good health.   Gopinathan, who is in-charge of jurisdictional XIV Metropolitan Magistrate court, also ordered the police to permit counsel S.P. Ramaraj to have a meeting with Ramkumar for 30 minutes each in the morning and in the evening in the presence of Investigation Officer to ensure that the suspect was not subjected to torture during custodial interrogation.

When the matter came up before the magistrate, Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP), R. Kolanchinathan submitted that the police  were in need of information that can be provided only by Ramkumar regarding the crime. “The information includes details as to how the suspect planned and executed the murder. The minute details as to what transpired before and after the incident were among the other things required by police. The police also want to know whether the suspect had taken assistance of others before and after the incident,” the APP told DC.

ACP K.P.S. Devaraj moved a petition seeking five day custody of Ramkumar.  Naveen, a doctor from Puzhal Prison, appeared before court and submitted that Ramkumar’s mental condition was stable and he was not under any stress. The doctor also informed the court that the sutures on Ramkumar’s neck can be removed on Wednesday night.

Opposing the custody plea, defence counsel S.P.Ramaraj said Ramkumar was with  police since his arrest and that he was not in a condition to speak properly.
“Ramkumar’s life would be under threat if he is sent to police custody. When I met him in Puzhal Prison on Tuesday, he was not in a position to speak and undergoing severe mental stress. Hence, he should not be sent to police custody,” counsel said.

Rejecting the argument, the magistrate had pointed out that Ramkumar was brought all the way from Tirunelveli to Chennai safely after the arrest, APP, R. Kolanchinathan said.