The CID initiates a fresh inquiry into the death of a housemaid in police custody.

The CID today informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate that they have initiated a fresh probe into the  death of a housemaid who died mysteriously after being arrested and while being in the custody of the Welikada police.

The victim, a 42-year-old woman who was a domestic worker at popular teledramatic producer and business personality Sudharma Nethicumara's house and who was taken into Welikada Police custody over alleged theft, died while undergoing treatment at the Colombo National Hospital.

When the magisterial inquiry into the matter came before Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela, the CID said they were conducting further investigations to ascertain whether the death occurred under normal circumstances or if it was a murder.

A group of lawyers appearing on behalf of the aggrieved party, the husband of the deceased, informed the magistrate that the husband of the deceased had prepared an affidavit and pleaded with the court to conduct investigations based on the information in the affidavit. In his affidavit, the husband said the death of R. Rajkumari was suspicious and demanded an independent investigation.

The magistrate directed the lawyers who appeared for the aggrieved party to hand over this affidavit to the investigating officer of the CID. A further magisterial inquiry was postponed to July 22.