CBI, Crime Branch at loggerheads over probe

KOCHI: It seems that the CBI and the Crime Branch are at loggerheads over the probe into the death of CBI ASP Haridath, who had investigated the controversial Sampath custodial death case. A month after the Ernakulam Crime Branch took over the case, the probe is still in its initial stages, allegedly due to the non-cooperation between the state and the Central probe agencies.The Crime Branch officials have written a letter to the CBI demanding that all documents related to Haridath, including his ‘annual performance appraisal’ should be handed over to the investigation team.“More than three weeks ago, we had sent a letter to the CBI higher officials seeking the documents. Till now, the documents have not been handed over to us. They are not cooperating with the investigation. Also, the CBI hardly communicates with us on the related aspects of the case. And Now, they have even transferred two key officials who were named in the suicide note. It’s certainly going to slow down the investigation,” a top Crime Branch official said on condition of anonymity.The Crime Branch also demanded that the CBI should appoint a liaison officer so that a transparent investigation can be carried out. “We have asked them to name a liaison officer in the case. However, we have not received any communication from their side. It seems they are in no mood to cooperate with us. This has further delayed the probe as we have to quiz the CBI officials and verify the documents. Owing to this, even after one month, the investigation continues to be in its initial stages,” Crime Branch sources said.However, the CBI officials denied that any request for the documents has been given by the Crime Branch. “We have not received any request to hand over the documents to the investigation team. The liaison officer has been appointed and his name has been communicated to the DGP and ADGP. They have not given any request for quizzing the CBI officials till now. So, it cannot be said that the CBI is non-cooperative in the case,” a higher official of the CBI said.Meanwhile the investigation team visited Kanakaraj, co-accused in the Puthur Sheela murder case, at Kannur Central Jail on Friday to record his statement in the case.Kanakaraj is the second accused in the Puthur Sheela murder case, during the investigation of which Sampath died in police custody.“We visited Kanakaraj because he is the key person in the Sheela murder case. We took his statement to know more about the Puthur case in which Sampath was involved,” Crime Branch SP K G Simmon said.