CHENNAI: Relatives of K Muthu, who died in police custody on Saturday, claimed that he succumbed to his injuries after torture by the men in khaki. A wailing Bhuvaneshwari, elder sister of Muthu (34), whose house is located at School Street, Virugambakkam, rubbished police claims that he was involved in a case of robbery along with one Shahul Hameed. “He did not even know him. Since childhood, he had lived with me in Virugambakkam. Muthu was pursuing a career in films,” she said.Looking distraught by the side of her brother’s body at the Royapettah Government Hospital, she recalled that two cops knocked at their door on Friday midnight and took Muthu away, claiming that they needed him for an inquiry.“They beat him up even when they took him from home. Five lawyers tried to meet him in the station throughout the day and kept shuttling between Vadapalani and Virugambakkam. But they never got to see him,” she said.To fob off the lawyers, the police said Muthu was tired as the probe was on and asked them to come later, she alleged. “They killed my brother and did not even inform us about his death. We got to know about it only through newspapers on Sunday. Besides, they brought my parents from Cuddalore and have kept them at an undisclosed location,” she claimed.One of five siblings born to labourer couple Kuppusamy and Rajamma, Muthu worked as a production executive for various films, including 'Ko', 'Nanayam', 'Goa' and an upcoming film, 'Atta Kathi'.“He had salary issues with his production manager. His manager filed a plaint with the Virugambakkam police months ago claiming that he stole a film can. Muthu secured anticipatory bail and it appeared that the issue was later sorted out,” said Murugan, a relative.His kin alleged that he was tortured in custody due to this case. “When we asked about the complainant, the cops said that it was just a formal probe,” said Jothisivam, a lawyer.
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