Investigating Agency Duty-Bound To Identify Real Accused : Madras HC Directs Re-Postmortem In Custodial Death Case Where Autopsy Completed In Night Hours

The Madras High Court on Thursday directed the postmortem of a farmer in the Tenkasi district of the state, alleged to be a victim of custodial torture, to be conducted again, the postmortem having been earlier completed in night hours in violation of the set norms.
The order came after the Court had on Tuesday already called for the copy of the postmortem along with the video which was recorded during the time of postmortem. The Single Judge explained that the answer is that the postmortem has to be done within the presence of sunlight, because the colour of the injury in tube light, CFL, LED’s and other artificial illumination appears to be purple rather than red, and “as per forensic science, there is no mention of purple injury and wound”.