Pathanamthitta: The High Court has directed to hand over the case of Mathai, a farm owner who died under mysterious circumstances while in the custody of the forest department, to the CBI. The order was issued after considering a petition filed by Mathai’s wife. The High Court’s decision came in the wake of the government’s decision to hand over the probe to the CBI.
However, the court asked the petitioners why the body was not buried. The High Court told Mathai’s wife that steps should be taken for his burial. The body of Mathai, who died on July 28, has not yet been cremated.
Mathai fell to death in a well while taking evidence in Chittar. Mathai was taken into custody in the case of destroying the camera of the forest department. On the same day, the relatives alleged that there was a mystery in the death. The relatives said that the body would not be cremated without taking action against the culprits. The High Court had sought an explanation from the Pathanamthitta SP stating that a detailed inquiry was needed into the incident.