The South Zone Inspector General (IG) of police in Kerala on Monday issued a show cause notice to Circle Inspector P V Ratheesh in connection with the incident where two hotel employees were physically assaulted at the Peechi Police Station on May 24, 2023.
In the show -cause notice, IG Syamsundar, has asked Ratheesh to explain why action should not be taken against him over the custodial torture allegedly took place at Peechi police station on May 24, 2023, within 15 days
On May 24, 2023, Ratheesh, who was then the SI at Peechi police station, allegedly brutally assaulted two employees of Food and Fun Hotel, run by the Laly’s Groupat Pattikkad in Thrissur
Thrissur-based businessman K P Ouseph, the managing director of Laly’s Group, had on Sunday released the footage of the torture, he received after a year and a half of legal battle. The footage shows the incidents of torture that two employees of Food and Fun Hotel run by the Laly’s Group subjected inside Peechi police station on May 24, 2023
The incident began after an argument between Dhineesh of Palakkad and some of his staff at the Food and Fun Hotel on May 24, 2023. Dhineesh later approached Peechi police, claiming that he was assaulted by the hotel employees. Following this,the hotel manager, Ronny Johny, and driver, Libin Philip, were called to the police station. There, Sub Inspector P M Ratheesh allegedly assaulted both of them.
“When my son Paul Joseph reached the station, he was locked up,”hotel owner Ouseph alleged Ouseph further alleged that when he reached the police station, the sub-inspector threatened to shut down his business.
Ouseph also said SI Ratheesh insisted on a settlement with Dhineesh. Ouseph said that Dhineesh had demanded Rs 5 lakh for this
“ Dhineesh told me that Rs three lakh would go to the police officials, while he would keep Rs two lakh,” Ouseph said.
Subsequently, Ouseph paid Rs.5 lakh in front of the CCTV camera at the police station. The hotel staff were released when the complainant left the borders of Thrissur district after giving a statement that no one had assaulted him
The next day, Ouseph approached the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ollur, who directed him to Thrissur City Police Commissioner Ankit Ashokan. Accordingly Ouseph submitted a written complaint to Ankit Asokan. Subsequently, Dhineesh was arrested but soon secured bail as the money could not be recovered
Ouseph alleged that no action was taken against the accused officers even after his complaint
Ouseph got the CCTV footage of the custodial torture in Peechi station after one and a half years of legal battle
Meanwhile, CI Ratheesh claimed that he only called the hotel manager and driver to the station based on a complaint that an attempt was made to kill a man named Dhineesh at the hotel by stuffing biryani into his mouth.