Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin has handed over the custodial death case of Ajit Kumar in Sivagangai district to the Central Bureau of Investigation, stating that the move is aimed at ensuring a transparent and credible probe.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said that the decision follows the observation of the Madras High Court that the ongoing CB CID probe can continue, and he believed a CBI Inquiry would provide greater clarity.
Mr. Stalin said transparency should be ensured along with a thorough probe. Saying sorry for the incident to Ajith’s mother over the phone, the Chief Minister also spoke to the brother and offered condolences.
Ajith Kumar was working as a security guard at the Madapuram Kaliamman temple when he was detained by police for questioning over a jewellery theft.
His family has alleged that he was tortured during interrogation, leading to his death. Following Ajith’s death, the Tamil Nadu government placed Sivaganga SP Ashish Rawat on “compulsory wait” and handed additional charge to Ramanathapuram SP G Chandeesh. The case was initially handed over to CB-CID for investigation.
During a hearing at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, advocate Henri Tiphagne submitted video and photographic evidence indicating that Ajith Kumar had been beaten with plastic pipes and iron rods. The court also raised concerns over the police’s failure to act on the original jewellery theft complaint.
Five police personnel have since been arrested. The state government confirmed that six officers were suspended on June 28, and based on post-mortem findings, the case has been converted into a criminal case. It is now registered at Tirupuvanam Police Station under Section 196(2)(a) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and has been sent for judicial inquiry.