Fri Jan 24 16:30:03 UTC 2025: **Tamil Nadu Police Solve Case of Human Feces Found in Village Water Tank**

**Chennai, January 24, 2025** – The Tamil Nadu Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) announced today that it has solved the high-profile case of human feces being found in a village water tank in Vengaivayal, Pudukottai district, in December 2022. Three individuals, all from the Scheduled Caste community, have been charged and a final report has been submitted to the Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The incident, which affected over 20 Scheduled Caste families, sparked outrage and multiple public interest litigations, leading to the case being transferred to the CB-CID and the appointment of a one-man commission to investigate. The investigation, hampered by a lack of eyewitnesses and surveillance footage, relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and forensic analysis, including DNA testing and mobile phone data analysis.

According to the CB-CID, the accused—J. Muraliraja, a police constable, B. Sudharshan, and K. Muthukrishnan—acted out of revenge following a dispute over water tank maintenance. The CB-CID’s investigation involved examining 397 witnesses, analyzing 196 mobile phone numbers and 87 cell tower data records, and collecting various forms of evidence, including deleted photos and videos.

The Director of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes also conducted a spot inquiry into the matter. While the court rejected a request to conduct polygraph tests on some suspects, the extensive investigation ultimately led to the identification and charging of the three individuals. The case highlights the challenges faced in investigating such crimes in the absence of direct evidence and underscores the importance of thorough forensic analysis in achieving justice.

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