Madurai Fifth Additional Sessions Court Judge Joseph Joy also directed to suspend Inspector Arunachalam, who is still in service.
Published Sep 26, 2025 | 4:40 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 26, 2025 | 4:40 PM
Inspector Alex Raj and constables Satheesh, Ravi, and Ravichandran have been sentenced to undergo jail term.
Synopsis: The case dates back to 2019. Muthu Karthik, a 17-year-old excavator cleaner, was taken to the SS Colony police station in Madurai in a criminal case. During interrogation, the officers allegedly assaulted him, leading to severe injuries. Though he was admitted to a hospital, his life could not be saved.
A Madurai court on Friday, 26 September, sentenced to 11 years of imprisonment four police officers, including an inspector, for the custodial death of a minor boy six years ago.
According to the prosecution, 17-year-old Muthu Karthik, an excavator cleaner, was taken to the SS Colony police station in Madurai in a criminal case in 2019. During interrogation, the officers allegedly assaulted him, leading to severe injuries.
Though he was admitted to a hospital, his life could not be saved.
His mother, Jeya of Kochadai, approached the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which transferred the case to the CB-CID.
Following a probe, the CB-CID filed a case against Inspector Alex Raj and constables Satheesh, Ravi, and Ravichandran. After a prolonged trial, Madurai Fifth Additional Sessions Court Judge Joseph Joy sentenced all four to 11 years of imprisonment.
The judge also directed the CB-CID to include Inspector Premachandran, Sub-Inspector Kannan, and Inspector Arunachalam in the case for allegedly attempting to tamper with evidence and ordered the filing of a fresh charge sheet.
While Premachandran and Kannan have since retired, the court directed the government to place Inspector Arunachalam under suspension.
Further, the court instructed departmental action against government doctors, Dr Jayakumar and RMO Dr Srilatha for allegedly concealing injuries during the post-mortem examination.
The case had drawn attention to broader concerns around custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu. Human rights groups, including People’s Watch, have previously flagged the death of Muthu Karthik as part of a disturbing pattern of custodial torture and evidence tampering in the state.
In other recent incidents, such as the 2025 Thiruppuvanam custodial death of temple watchman Ajith Kumar in Sivaganga district, courts also ordered CB-CID and CBI investigations following allegations that the police had destroyed evidence and doctors failed to document injuries properly.
People’s Watch organisation welcomed the judgement and demanded a government job for Karthik’s brother.
