The parents, Saravanan and Krishnakumari, have been named as the first and second accused, respectively.
Published Jul 29, 2025 | 1:56 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 29, 2025 | 1:56 PM
The deceased, Kavin Selva Ganesh.
Synopsis: In Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, 25-year-old SC youth Kavinselva Ganesh was hacked to death in broad daylight by Surjith, brother of his MBC girlfriend, over their inter-caste relationship. Surjith’s parents, both police Sub-Inspectors, were suspended and named as prime accused for allegedly instigating the murder. Surjith confessed and surrendered.
In the Nellai caste killing case, where a 25-year-old IT employee Kavinselva Ganesh, a Scheduled Caste youth, was hacked to death over a romantic relationship, the accused’s parents—both serving as police Sub-Inspectors—have been suspended from service. The SSI’s belong to battalion police.
The victim was allegedly hacked to death in front of his mother in broad daylight in the Palayamkottai area in Tirunelveli of Tamil Nadu, on Sunday, 27 July, by Surjith (22) — the brother of his girlfriend Subashini — and a friend, due to the difference in their caste.
In a complaint submitted at the Palayamkottai Police Station, Kavinselva’s mother, S Tamilselvi, alleged that Surjith murdered Kavinselva at the instigation of his parents. “Since both of them are sub-inspectors, a murder case should also be filed against them,” demanded Tamilselvi.
The parents, Saravanan and Krishnakumari, have been named as the first and second accused, respectively, while Surjith, who allegedly carried out the murder, has been named as the third accused.
The boy belonged to Devendra Kula Vellalar, a Scheduled Caste (SC) community, while the woman belongs to Maravar, a Most Backward Class (MBC) community.
Maravar is a sub-caste within the Mukkulathor community, which is part of the Thevar caste, which is considered MBC in the Tirunelveli district.
Kavinselva, son of Chandrasekhar and Selvi from Arumugamangalam near Eral in the Thoothukudi district, had completed his undergraduate studies and was employed at an IT firm in Chennai.
He had returned to his native place for a vacation and visited a Siddha clinic in KTC Nagar First Street on Saturday morning, taking his aged grandfather for treatment.
While returning home after the treatment, at around 2.30 pm, two men suddenly intercepted them, picked a quarrel with Kavinselva, and chased him down the street before hacking him multiple times with machetes. He died on the spot, lying in a pool of blood.
Preliminary police investigation revealed that Kavinselva was in a long-term relationship with a woman who studied with him during school days in Thoothukudi.
The woman is reportedly a Siddha doctor working at a private Siddha clinic in KTC Nagar. On Saturday, it is said that Kavinselva went to the clinic with his grandfather under the pretext of seeking treatment, but in reality, he had gone to meet his girlfriend. It was while returning from the clinic that Surjith chased him with a machete and hacked him to death.
During police interrogation, Surjith reportedly confessed that he had repeatedly asked Kavinselva to end his relationship with his sister. Despite this, Kavinselva continued to meet her at the clinic. Enraged by this, Surjith said he waited for the right moment and murdered him. He reportedly added that he voluntarily surrendered because he believes he should face punishment for what he has done.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose)
