Madras High Court slams Tamil Nadu Police for brutal custodial death of temple guard Ajith Kumar. Orders Rs 25 lakh interim compensation to victim’s family.
Chennai: Today, on July 22, the Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to pay an interim compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the family of Ajith Kumar, a 27-year-old security guard at Madapuram Temple in Sivaganga district, who died in police custody under suspicious circumstances last month.
Ajith Kumar was working as a security guard at the Madapuram Temple in Sivaganga district when he was taken into custody by the police in connection with a theft case.
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The matter began when a female devotee, identified as Nikita, had reportedly asked Ajith to help park her car.
Since Ajith did not know how to drive, he asked another individual to do it. Later, the woman alleged that cash and gold were missing from her vehicle. Based on this complaint, the local police picked up Ajith Kumar for questioning.
A few days later, Ajith died while in police custody. The post-mortem report revealed more than 40 injuries on his body, strongly suggesting that he had been tortured.
These injuries and the nature of his death raised serious concerns of custodial violence, prompting public outrage and legal action.
Taking note of these findings, the Madras High Court, after reviewing a detailed report submitted by a Sessions Court Judge, confirmed that Ajith’s death was indeed a custodial death involving physical abuse.
The Court strongly condemned the incident and said such inhuman acts must not be tolerated in any civilised society. It ruled that the victim’s family should be compensated immediately while allowing them to seek further legal remedies later.
“Such acts cannot be tolerated in a civilised society and must be dealt with firmly,”
the Court observed while awarding the compensation. The Court further stated,
“Even a murderer wouldn’t have inflicted such brutality.”
Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government had offered Rs 7.5 lakh as compensation along with a housing plot and a government job for Ajith Kumar’s brother.
However, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ruled that this was insufficient and directed the state to pay an additional Rs 25 lakh as interim compensation.
It also clarified that the family is free to approach the court again after the conclusion of criminal proceedings if they wish to seek further compensation.
The court said,
“The petitioner is at liberty to approach the court again for more compensation after the completion of the criminal proceedings.”
In response to widespread public anger and demands for justice, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin ordered that the case be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
He assured the public that the probe would be independent and fair, stating,
“There should be no questions over the investigation.”
He also issued a public apology to Ajith Kumar’s family.
Following the court’s direction and the Chief Minister’s intervention, the CBI has now taken over the investigation and registered an FIR against police officers from Sivaganga district. The High Court has also directed the CBI to appoint investigators within one week and submit its final report by August 20.
As part of the disciplinary actions taken so far, five police personnel, including those directly involved in the alleged custodial torture, have been arrested.
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A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) has been suspended, and the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Sivaganga district has been put under compulsory wait.
The CBI will also investigate the original theft complaint filed by the woman, Nikita, as per the Madras High Court’s direction.
Background of the Case
Ajith Kumar, a young man from Tamil Nadu, was working as a security guard at a local temple in Sivaganga district. On the day of the incident, a devotee asked him to help park her car. Unable to drive, Ajith asked another person to assist.
Subsequently, the devotee alleged theft of cash and gold from the vehicle and lodged a police complaint. Ajith was taken into custody for questioning but never returned home. Days later, his body was handed over with visible signs of torture, sparking public protests and demands for justice.
His death under police custody raised serious questions about custodial torture and the need for stronger protections against police brutality in India.
The matter was initially dealt with by the state police, but due to public pressure and the severity of the allegations, it has now been handed over to the CBI for an impartial and comprehensive investigation.
The judicial system, while taking note of the brutal nature of the injuries and the clear violation of human rights, has stepped in to ensure interim relief for the grieving family and accountability for the custodial violence.
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