Kavin Selva Ganesh was returning home with his mother after taking his grandfather to a Siddha clinic on KTC Nagar First Street, when he was chased and hacked to death in broad daylight.
Published Jul 30, 2025 | 4:06 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 30, 2025 | 4:06 PM
The deceased, Kavin Selva Ganesh.
Synopsis: The case was transferred to the CB-CID, considering the sensitive nature and significance of the case, and to ensure a fair, independent, and unbiased investigation.
Tamil Nadu’s Crime Branch – Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) will probe the murder of Kavin Selva Ganesh, a 25-year-old Dalit software engineer who was hacked to death for reportedly establishing a romantic relationship with the daughter of a police sub-inspector couple, belonging to another caste.
State DGP Shankar Jiwal issued the order on Wednesday, 30 July, transferring the case to CB-CID. The case was initially registered by the Palayamkottai police station under Crime No. 396/2025, invoking Sections 296(b), 49, 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), and 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The accused persons include Surjith and his parents, Saravanan and Krishnakumari. Preliminary investigation suggested that the murder stemmed from a dispute involving a relationship between the deceased and Surjith’s sister.
Saravanan and Krishnakumari, now placed under suspension, were sub-inspectors in the Tamil Nadu Special Police. They were suspended from service to ensure an impartial and transparent investigation.
“Given the sensitive nature and significance of the case, and to ensure a fair, independent, and unbiased investigation, the case has been transferred to the CB-CID (Crime Branch – Criminal Investigation Department),” the DGP’s statement said.
Kavin, son of Chandrasekhar and Selvi from Arumugamangalam near Eral in the Thoothukudi district, was hacked to death on Sunday, 27 July, at the Palayamkottai area in Tirunelveli.
The deceased was returning home with his mother after taking his grandfather to a Siddha clinic on KTC Nagar First Street, when two men intercepted them and started a quarrel around 2.30 pm.
Though Kavin tried to escape, he was chased and hacked multiple times with machetes. He died at the scene.
Kavin was reportedly in love with Surjith’s sister since his schooldays in Thoothukudi. On knowing about the affair, the girl’s family shifted residence to KTC Nagar in Tirunelveli nearly a decade ago.
However, the couple reportedly continued their relationship over the phone and social media.
The woman has been a Siddha doctor working at a private clinic in KTC Nagar. Kavin went to the clinic with his grandfather under the pretext of seeking treatment, but to meet his love interest. While returning from the clinic, he was murdered.
Kavin belonged to Devendra Kula Vellalar, a Scheduled Caste (SC) community, while the woman belongs to Maravar, a Most Backward Class (MBC) community.
