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CCTV from Peechi police station in Thrissur shows SI Ratheesh and others assaulting Laly’s Group staff, sparking outrage after KP Ouseph released the footage obtained via RTI.
As per the reports, the incident took place in May 2023, and the video was released by Thrissur-based businessman KP Ouseph. (News18)
A fresh custodial torture case has come into the limelight in Kerala’s Thrissur district after a CCTV footage from Peechi police station, which has surfaced on social media platforms, showed police officers physically assaulting restaurant employees.
As per the reports, the incident took place in May 2023, and the video was released by Thrissur-based businessman KP Ouseph, managing director of Laly’s Group, after it was obtained under the RTI Act.
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According to Ouseph, the dispute began when Dhineesh of Palakkad clashed with restaurant workers at Pattikad and later complained to police, as per the Outlook report.
Following the complaint, Peechi SI Ratheesh summoned restaurant manager Roni and another employee to the station, where he assaulted them.
The CCTV video showed Roni being slapped in the SI’s cabin and another police officer beating up the employee who was with him.
Ouseph and his son Paul Joseph reached the police station after hearing this. However, the police confined Paul to the lockup along with the hotel staff. They asked Ouseph to settle for a compromise.
Ouseph alleged that Ratheesh threatened to shut down his business and warned of filing fabricated charges, citing the presence of Dhineesh’s minor son at the restaurant. He said Civil Police Officer Mahesh and SI Jayesh also participated in the custodial violence.
He further alleged that a previous enmity lay behind the incident and that the daughter of the sister of a police officer at Peechi station had been caught stealing goods from his store, prompting him to take revenge on them.
Later, as a compromise, Ousep said that five lakh rupees were paid to the complainants. After receiving the money, the complainant returned to the station and withdrew his complaint.
Though Dhineesh was later arrested, he quickly secured bail as the bribe money was not recovered.
Ouseph said he pursued the matter legally, filing RTI requests for the CCTV footage. Though initially rejected on grounds such as “women protection” and “Maoist reasons,” the Kerala State Right to Information Commission finally ordered the release of the footage in August 2024.
The case has parallels to a recent suspension of four policemen in Thrissur’s Kunnamkulam station, after CCTV evidence obtained through the RTI Act confirmed the assault of Youth Congress leader V S Sujith in 2023.
About the Author
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More
Thrissur, India, India
September 07, 2025, 14:54 IST
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