The Supreme Court has stayed the Madras High Court’s order transferring the K Armstrong murder probe to the CBI, restoring control to the Tamil Nadu police. The decision marks a major legal twist in the high-profile case.
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NEW DELHI: In a development on Wednesday, the Supreme Court stayed the Madras High Court’s order transferring the investigation into the murder of former Tamil Nadu BSP chief K Armstrong to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The decision comes after the Tamil Nadu government challenged the High Court’s directive and the quashing of the chargesheet filed by the state police.
A bench comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi heard the appeal and granted interim relief to the state. This move marks a crucial turning point in the high-profile case that has drawn widespread political and public attention across Tamil Nadu.
Background
On September 24, the Madras High Court transferred the Armstrong murder probe to the CBI, instructing the federal agency to complete its investigation and file a final report within six months. The court had also quashed the existing chargesheet submitted by the Tamil Nadu police.
The Supreme Court, on October 10, had already stayed the quashing of the chargesheet but had allowed the CBI probe to go forward, until now.
During Wednesday’s hearing, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing the Tamil Nadu police, rejected allegations that state authorities had failed to hand over case records to the CBI. He argued that the chargesheet filed by the state police was thorough and that the High Court had dismissed it “in a casual manner.”
Taking note of these submissions, the Supreme Court ordered a stay on the transfer of the case to the CBI, putting the investigation back under the purview of Tamil Nadu police, for the moment.
The Murder of K Armstrong
K Armstrong, president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Tamil Nadu, was hacked to death on July 5, 2024, near his residence in Chennai. The brutal killing shocked the state and prompted swift police action.
So far:
- 27 people have been arrested
- All have been remanded to judicial custody
- Several individuals have also been detained under the Goondas Act
The motive behind the murder continues to be a subject of investigation.
