Fresh questions are emerging in the controversial custodial death of temple security guard Ajithkumar, as the complainant who accused him of theft, a doctor named Nikitha, has now been linked to an earlier fraud case involving a government job scam.
Ajithkumar, a 27-year-old temple guard, was arrested in connection with a theft complaint filed by Dr. Nikitha, who alleged that jewellery kept in a car parked in Madapuram was stolen. Following the complaint, members of a special police unit allegedly assaulted Ajithkumar with sticks and plastic pipes. He later died in custody, sparking widespread protests and public condemnation across Tamil Nadu.
Now, records show that in 2011, a case was registered against Dr. Nikitha and her family at the Thirumangalam Police Station in Madurai district. The complaint, filed by a man named Rajangam, accused Nikitha and her family of defrauding him of ₹16 lakh under the pretext of securing government employment.
According to the FIR, Nikitha allegedly claimed to have strong ties with a personal assistant to then Deputy Chief Minister MK Stalin and promised Rajangam both a teaching job and a village assistant post. After repeated delays and unfulfilled promises, Rajangam demanded his money back, but was allegedly threatened and coerced instead. Following the complaint, Nikitha and her family reportedly went into hiding. A case was registered against six individuals, including her parents and a person identified as Bhagat Singh.
More controversially, sources allege that an IAS officer, said to be close to Nikitha, may have exerted pressure on the police in the present Ajithkumar case, a claim that has not yet been officially verified. The allegation has triggered further public outrage, with calls for an impartial investigation into both the custodial death and the background of the complainant.
Opposition leaders and citizens are demanding answers regarding the identity of the IAS officer and the handling of both cases by the police.
The custodial death of Ajithkumar has already led to strict scrutiny of Tamil Nadu’s police procedures, and this new revelation has intensified the demand for accountability at multiple levels of the administration.
(With inputs from Hindu Tamil)
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