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	Abhaya Case: Retired Cop Involved in Probe Found Dead The Hindu November 25, 2008 http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200811252015.htm Kottayam (PTI): Adding a new dimension to the Sister Abhaya case, barely a week after the arrest of two priests and a nun, a retired police official who conducted the inquiry 16 years ago, was found dead at his house. Police suspected that 62-year-old Retd Assistant Sub Inspector V V Augustine committed suicide as he was found dead with his veins cut and froth oozing out of his mouth in the compound of his house at Calachira about 15 km from Kottayam. A note was also found near the body saying, "CBI is responsible for my death." His death came a day after the CBI obtained a statement from him regarding the case. Augustine, who was the ASI of the Kottayam West police station at the time of Abhaya's death, was the first policeman to reach the spot after the nun's body was found in the well of Pius 10th convent in Kottayam town on March 27, 1992. It was he who conducted the inquest and prepared the FIR in the case and was involved in the initial phase of investigation before the case was handed over to the Crime Branch and later to the CBI. He was subjected to brain mapping by the CBI team in 2007 and his statement was taken by the present investigating team amid allegations that certain vital information had been suppressed in the FIR. His statement was taken by the CBI on Monday after the case took a new turn with the arrest of Fr Thomas Kottur and Jose Puthrukkayil and Sister Sephy in connection with the investigations last week.
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