CBI plea turned down Kancheepuram

A local court has turned down a petition by CBI to extend for further fiver days its custody of PMK founder Ramadoss's brother arrested in connection with a case relating to murder of a relative of Commercial Taxes Minister C V Shanmugam in 2006.

Srinivasan, a PMK functionary, and another functionary were arrested by CBI on January 25 at Tindivanam in Villupuram district in connection with the murder of Muruganandam on May 8, 2006.

CBI had appealed for a further five day period of custody of the two when the case came up at the Chengalpattu sessions court yesterday. The CBI had said this was necessary to arrive at details and to seize the weapons that were part of the murder case and finally file the Crime Report.

The sessions judge rejected the CBI petition for further custody of Srinivasan, but granted custody of the other PMK functionary till February 2. The judge ordered that Srinivasan be taken back to the Puzhal prison.

The case was earlier investigated by Tamil Nadu police. However, the Madras High Court had on October 29 ordered a CBI inquiry into the murder.