The investigation over the brutal murder of Dalit youth Kavin Selvaganesh allegedly over his relationship with a woman from another caste, has been transferred to the Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department (CBCID). A press release from the police department, on Wednesday, July 30, states that the case is transferred because both the parents of the prime accused Surjith are police officers, who are also named as accused in the case.
“Surjith’s father and mother are working as Sub-Inspectors in the Tamil Nadu Special Police Force. To ensure a fair and transparent investigation, both of them have been suspended from duty. Considering the seriousness and importance of the case, and to guarantee an independent and unbiased investigation, the case has now been handed over to the CBCID,” the release stated.
Earlier in the day, Surjith was detained under the Goondas Act, based on orders by Tirunelveli Commissioner of Police, Santosh Hadimani.
Kavin was hacked to death by Surjith on July 27 in Tirunelveli’s KTC Nagar. The murder is believed to have been triggered by Kavin’s relationship with Surjith’s sister, Subhashini. The relationship was allegedly opposed by her family due to caste differences. Kavin belonged to the Scheduled Caste Devendra Kula Vellalar community, while Subhashini’s family was from the Thevar community’s Maravar sub-caste, falling under Denotified Communities (DNC) in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.
Kavin’s mother, Tamilselvi, who witnessed the murder, has filed a complaint stating that Surjith used casteist slurs during the attack and claimed his parents — both serving as Sub-Inspectors of Police — would be “at peace” only after Kavin’s death.
Despite these allegations, Surjith’s parents, Saravanan and Krishnakumari, have not yet been arrested. Kavin’s family has refused to claim his body or accept victim compensation until the two are taken into custody. However, both officers were suspended from service on Tuesday.
An FIR has been registered against Surjith and his parents under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
