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	Former Probe Officer Ends Life Express Buzz November 26, 2008 http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/print.aspx?artid=b316ezbFWEQ= KOTTAYAM: V V Augustine, formerASI who was one of the key witnesses in the Sr Abhaya murder case and upon whom serious charges were levelled including tampering with vital evidence and non-inclusion of it while preparing the nun’s inquest report, committed suicide on Tuesday. Augustine, who was found in a plot near his house at Pulimoodu, Ithithanam, off Chingavanam, bled to death after slashing his left wrist. It is also suspected that he consumed poison to ensure his death. A suicide note recovered from his body blamed the CBI for his death. Augustine’s suicide comes in the wake of allegations that the CBI was torturing witnesses to ferret out the truth behind the nun’s murder. Augustine, as ASI of Kottayam West police station, had prepared the inquest report after the corpse was found in the well of the St Pius X Convent on March 25, 1992. It was alleged that Augustine unofficially took orders from a top police officer and gave the truth a go-by while recording crucial evidence. Rumours were rife that Augustine was in the custody of the CBI team and was likely to be arrested on Tuesday. With the long arm of the law finally catching up with the two priests and the nun involved in Sr Abhaya’s murder, it was widely believed that Augustine and another former top police officer were likely to land in police net. There were also indications that Augustine could be declared an approver in the case and let off. Though Augustine was to undergo narco analysis test, he could not be subjected to it owing to heart ailments. However, he had undergone brain mapping tests and was questioned by team after team from the CBI after the latter took over the case from the local sleuths. The suicide note stated the his property should be given to one of his sons and there should not be any dispute on it. Augustine’s body will be taken to the Kottayam Medical College for autopsy on Wednesday.
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