Madras High Court confirms Ajith Kumar died due to police torture, citing 44 injuries. CBI given deadline till August 20 to complete probe.
Chennai: Today, on July 8, in a shocking revelation, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has stated that Ajith Kumar, a 28-year-old temple guard from Sivaganga district in Tamil Nadu, was tortured and killed while in police custody.
This conclusion was based on a report submitted by a sessions court judge, which the High Court reviewed on Tuesday afternoon.
The tragic case started when a woman named Nikitha filed a complaint alleging that Ajith Kumar stole her jewellery from her car after she asked him to park it.
Reports suggest that Nikitha is acquainted with a bureaucrat, although the police have denied this connection.
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Following her complaint, Ajith was picked up by the local police for questioning. Within hours, his family was informed that he had died in custody, leading to serious allegations against the police.
The Madras High Court, which had already raised concerns about the police’s handling of the case, including the suspicious movement of Ajith’s body from one police station to another, has taken a strong stance.
It flagged the possible destruction of crucial evidence and ordered a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe.
The High Court directed the CBI to form a special investigation team and begin the probe within a week, with a detailed report expected by August 20.
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As part of the investigation, the CBI will also look into Nikitha’s complaint and examine all the circumstances surrounding the theft allegation.
The government of Tamil Nadu had already transferred the case to the CBI last week, with Chief Minister MK Stalin stating that the move was necessary to ensure a fair inquiry.
In the meantime, five police officers have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the illegal and fatal assault on Ajith Kumar. Additionally, the district police chief and his deputy have been suspended for their role in the matter.
The autopsy report revealed severe injuries to various parts of Ajith’s body, including his forehead, arms, knees, feet, and buttocks.
It also found that there was an excessive accumulation of blood in his brain, a condition known as cerebral congestion, which can result from traumatic brain injury.
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Human rights activist and Executive Director of People’s Watch, Henri Tiphagne, who is supporting Ajith’s family and following the case closely, told media:
“Forty-four injuries and more actually, so this is torture…”
This incident has caused a major political uproar, especially since the ruling party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had previously criticised its rival AIADMK over the 2020 Sathankulam custodial deaths.
Now, the same allegations are being levelled against them, leading to strong backlash just ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections next year.
Case Title:
Karthickraja & Ors v State & Ors
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