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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case on Saturday, July 12, against the police personnel in connection with the custodial death of Ajith Kumar, a security guard at the Badrakaliamman Temple in Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga district. The case was registered under Section 103 (punishment for murder) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and named police personnel as accused.
The move came after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ordered the CBI to appoint an investigating officer within one week to take over the probe and submit a final report by August 20.
Ajith Kumar was arrested on June 27 in connection with a jewellery theft and was taken to a cowshed, where he was allegedly beaten. He died the next day. A video that surfaced online showed him being repeatedly beaten with a stick, leading to public outrage.
The post-mortem report revealed 44 injuries on Ajith’s body, including deep muscle contusions, haemorrhages in internal organs, and signs of prolonged blunt force trauma, all strongly indicative of torture.
The Tamil Nadu government has suspended six police personnel, arrested five members of a special team, and suspended the DSP of Manamadurai. Sivaganga SP Ashish Rawat has been transferred and placed on compulsory wait, while Ramanathapuram SP G Chandeesh has taken over additional charge of Sivaganga district.
CM MK Stalin had announced that the case would be transferred to the CBI for an impartial inquiry. “Since allegations have been made against five policemen, and to ensure there is no doubt cast on the probe, I have ordered the transfer of the investigation to the CBI,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Madras High Court has also stepped in, with a division bench of Justices SM Subramaniam and AD Maria Clete ordering a judicial inquiry. The IV Additional District Judge of Madurai, S John Sundarlal Suresh, was tasked with conducting a thorough investigation and submitting a report by July 8.
On July 8, the division bench directed that the CBI officer must submit the final report to the jurisdictional court by August 20. The court also instructed the officer to collect critical material evidence, including the inquiry report submitted by Judge S John Sunderlal Suresh, post-mortem findings, and related judicial documents from the Registrar Judicial of the High Court and the Judicial Magistrate concerned.
The Inspector General of Police (South Zone) and the Superintendents of Police of both Madurai and Sivaganga districts have been directed to assist the CBI team. Further, the state government was ordered to protect witnesses under the Witness Protection Scheme.
The court also noted that the family of the deceased had been extended limited relief: Ajith’s brother, Naveen Kumar, was given a free house patta and a job in Aavin, Karaikudi. However, the bench directed the State to obtain instructions on providing interim compensation.
Ajith Kumar’s death marks the 24th alleged custodial death recorded in Tamil Nadu under the DMK regime, raising concerns about police excesses and accountability.