India, July 8 -- The Madras high court on Tuesday ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged custodial death of a 29-year-old temple security guard in Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga district, turning down the state government's plea for "one last chance" and stressing that the serious suspicion surrounding state officials warranted an independent investigation by the central agency.

A bench of justices SM Subramaniam and AD Maria Clete of the Madurai bench of the high court directed CBI to complete its probe and file its report before the court by August 20.

Additional advocate general Ajmal Khan, who appeared for the state, argued that CBI had been entrusted with important investigations in the past as well s...