Thanjavur: In yet another suspected instance of lockup death, a 37-year-old man, who had been taken into custody for inquiry by the Peravurani police in connection with a theft case, was found dead in Pattukottai police station today.

Police said that the deceased, Ravikanth, of Enathi Karambai village near Peravurani, committed suicide by hanging himself by his lungi, but his relatives claim that he was beaten to death by the cops during interrogation.

According to sources, Ravikanth was taken into custody by the Peravurani police for inquiry on August 26 in connection with a theft case. After inquiry, a police team, led by Sub Inspector Thangavel took him to the Judicial Magistrate’s residence in Pattukottai yesterday night for remanding him. As the magistrate was unwell, her staff asked the police to produce the accused in the court today. Subsequently, he was lodged at the lockup in the Pattukottai Police Station. Much to the shock of the police personnel in the station, Ravikanth was found dead this morning.

On being informed, Thanjavur district SP Mahesh and Pattukottai Sub-Division ASP Aravind Menon rushed to the station and conducted an inquiry. His body was sent to the Government Hospital in Pattukottai for post-mortem. After post-mortem, his body was handed over to his relatives in the evening.

Meanwhile, Ravikanth’s relatives alleged that he was beaten to death by police on the garb of interrogation. They also demanded that a murder case be registered against the cops involved in the incident. The police, however, denied the allegation and clarified that Ravikanth had hanged himself in the cell, with his lungi the previous night.