Reports indicate that the post-mortem, conducted at Madurai Rajaji Government Hospital, recorded 18 serious injuries on the victim's body. The cause of death was listed as a seizure. Five out of the six suspended police officers have been arrested.
Published Jul 01, 2025 | 12:58 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 01, 2025 | 12:58 AM
Ajith Kumar custodial death: Case transferred to CBI following High Court scrutiny
Synopsis: Five of the six police officers suspended in connection with the alleged custodial death of 27-year-old temple watchman Ajith Kumar in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district have been arrested following a post-mortem report confirming 18 injuries and seizure as the cause of death.
Five of the six police personnel suspended in connection with the alleged custodial death of a 27-year-old temple worker in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district were arrested on the evening of Monday, 30 June.
The incident took place at the well-known Madapuram Bhadrakali Amman temple. The victim, Ajith Kumar, was taken into custody on Friday, 27 June, in connection with a reported theft. He is alleged to have died as a result of custodial torture during interrogation.
Following the release of the post-mortem report, the case has been reclassified as murder under Section 196(2)(a) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). FIR No. 303/2025 has been registered at the Thiruppuvanam police station.
Reports indicate that the autopsy, conducted at Madurai Rajaji Government Hospital, recorded 18 serious injuries on Ajith Kumar’s body. The cause of death was listed as a seizure.
The incident has triggered widespread protests from local residents, human rights groups, and social activists, who laid siege to the Thiruppuvanam police station on Saturday demanding justice.
The six officers from the Crime Branch – Sub-Inspectors Raja, Sangaramanickam, Ramachandran, Prabhu, Anand, and Head Constable Kannan – were initially suspended pending inquiry, on the orders of Sivaganga Superintendent of Police Ashish Rawat.
Tamil Nadu Director General of Police Shankar Jiwal has since transferred the case to the Crime Branch–CID (CBCID) for a detailed and impartial investigation.
Advocate Theeran Thirumurugan, who visited Ajith Kumar’s home to understand the events leading up to his death, spoke with Ajith’s brother Naveen Kumar, mother Madhavi, and visited the location. He later outlined the sequence of events to The South First.
Ajith Kumar was employed on a contract basis as a watchman at the Madapuram Badrakaliyamman temple. On 27 June, Dr Nikita from Thirumangalam visited the temple with her elderly mother.
As her mother was unable to walk, Ajith assisted them using a wheelchair. When asked to park their car, Ajith said he didn’t know how to drive. At her request, he called local auto driver Arun Kumar and Vinoth Kumar for help. Arun drove and parked the car.
About an hour later, Dr Nikita returned. Ajith called Arun, who handed back the keys. She then left for Thirumangalam.
Later that day, around 1 pm, Dr Nikita went to Thiruppuvanam police station and filed a complaint alleging that 10 sovereigns of gold – roughly 80 grams – and other valuables were missing from the car.
Based on her complaint, a head constable summoned Ajith to the station. Around 4 pm, Ajith arrived with his family. After a brief inquiry, his family was sent home while Ajith was detained.
A Crime Branch team from Manamadurai, about 27 km away, was brought in for further interrogation. This team, reportedly under the direct supervision of DSP Niresh P, arrived in a white mini-tempo van.
That night, Ajith was allegedly taken to a wooded area near Thiruppuvanam and subjected to torture, without his family being informed.
Meanwhile, Naveen Kumar was also called in for questioning, along with their acquaintances Arun Kumar, Vinoth Kumar, and Praveen Kumar. Early on 28 June, all were brought back to the station.
Speaking to the media, Naveen said they were assaulted and that he saw his brother being beaten.
After enduring two days of physical assault, Ajith reportedly confessed to the theft in a desperate attempt to end the torture.
Police then took him to a cowshed near the temple to recover the jewellery. When nothing was found, Ajith admitted he had lied out of fear and pain, according to Naveen.
According to Adv Thirumurugan, Officer Prabhu from the Manamadurai crime team contacted a relative named Sakthi, a staffer at the temple. In a conversation reportedly overheard by others, Prabhu said, “He’s not confessing even after repeated beatings,” to which another voice responded, “Bring him near the temple and beat him four more times.”
On 28 June, Ajith was reportedly taken near the temple around 4 pm and beaten until about 5.30 pm.
By the time he was brought back around 6 pm, his legs were broken and officers had to carry him to the vehicle. According to Naveen, Ajith had defecated himself – a possible indication of internal injury.
He was taken to a government hospital between 6 and 7 pm, where he was declared dead. The body was then shifted to a private hospital.
The police subsequently moved the body to Muthanenthal, a location between Thiruppuvanam and Manamadurai, and allegedly concealed it.
Despite repeated requests, the family was not informed of Ajith’s death until midnight. Police personnel reportedly stayed with the body at the same location until then.
Only after midnight did senior officers – including the SP and DSP – receive information and order the body to be shifted to the Madurai Government Hospital.
According to Advocate Thirumurugan, Head Constable Raja was the only officer who accompanied the body. He suspects deliberate efforts were made between 6.30 pm and midnight to suppress news of the death.
At 12.30 am, Ajith’s death was officially confirmed over police wireless, according to the family.
At 2 am on 29 June, an FIR was filed by Manamadurai Crime Branch Head Constable Kannan at the Thiruppuvanam police station (FIR No. 303/2025).
The FIR states that Ajith’s brother Naveen Kumar and some of his friends raised suspicion against Ajith.
It also claims that, following his confession, Ajith was taken to a cattle shed behind the Badrakaliamman Temple in Thiruppuvanam for questioning, during which he allegedly tried to flee, slipped, suffered a seizure, and died en route to hospital.
On the morning of 29 June, the case became public.
Later that day, District Collector K Porkodi, SP Ashish Rawat, and several political representatives visited Ajith’s family.
According to relatives, they offered ₹50 lakh in compensation and a government job at the temple for Ajith’s brother. They also allegedly pressured the family to accept the body without protest.
Local sources told The South First that Chengai Maran, a DMK district deputy secretary and panchayat chairman, played a key role in mediating with the family. The family was allegedly coerced into signing a consent form.
A video conference-based autopsy, followed by magisterial and revenue inquiries, was conducted. Ajith’s body was then buried.
Advocate Thirumurugan criticised the suspension of the police personnel, calling it an “eyewash”. He said such mild action does not act as a deterrent and may embolden others in the force.
In the wake of the incident, more than five petitions have been filed at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.
One petition urges the court to take suo motu cognisance of the alleged custodial death. The matter is scheduled for hearing on Tuesday.
Advocate Thirumurugan, who filed one of the petitions, has sought:
Chief Minister MK Stalin said that his government would take strict action against any police personnel found guilty of misconduct, while chairing a high-level law and order review meeting in Chennai.
“Be it a rowdy, someone with political influence, or a police officer – if laws are broken, punishment will follow,” he added.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary N Muruganandam, Director General of Police Shankar Jiwal, and Chennai Police Commissioner A Arun.
The chief minister also stressed the need for firm action against crimes related to drugs, illicit liquor, and violence against women. Referring to the death of Ajith, he assured an impartial investigation and justice.
The incident has drawn strong political criticism. Opposition parties – including allies of the ruling DMK – have condemned the state government over its handling of the case.
AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition, Edappadi K Palaniswami, took a sharp swipe at Chief Minister MK Stalin, referencing his earlier public reaction to the film Jai Bhim. “Where is the Chief Minister now?” he asked.
He called Stalin a “puppet Chief Minister” and accused him of failing to control the police force. Palaniswami demanded a judicial inquiry headed by a district judge, legal action against those responsible, and adequate compensation for Ajith Kumar’s family.
Leaders from the CPI(M), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi also condemned the incident.
They noted that this marks the 25th custodial death in Tamil Nadu over the past four years and called for immediate structural reforms.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
