The Madurai bench of Madras High Court has ordered the state government to pay Rs 10 lakh to the family of a man who died in police custody at Manapparai in 2000.
Passing the order Monday on a writ petition filed by father of victim Ramamoorthy, justice K.K. Sasidharan said Rs 2 lakh should be given to the petitioner S. Muthu, Rs 3 lakh to the victim’s wife M. Mallika and the remaining Rs 5 lakh to his two minor children.
The children’s share will be deposited in a nationalised bank for them to withdraw once they become adults. HC said the state could recover the amount from the three policemen involved.
The judge said the chain of events and deposition by witnesses established that Ramamoorthy, who was picked up for interrogation, died after torture in custody at Manapparai Police Station on February 25, 2000.
“Available material clearly proves the role of three cops. The state being the employer is vicariously liable to pay the compensation,” he said.
“The three cops actively participated in torturing Ramamoorthy and caused him multiple injuries while he was in lock-up,” the judge said.