In a harrowing account that casts a severe shadow over police conduct, Malathi, the mother of 28-year-old Ajithkumar, has broken her silence, detailing the alleged brutal torture that led to her son’s death in police custody last year. Her testimony follows a recent High Court order that denied bail to the five accused policemen and confirmed that the complaint which triggered the arrest was false.
Ajithkumar, a guard at the Manappuram Badrakaliyamman Temple, died on June 27 last year after being summoned for questioning by the Thirubhuvanam Special Branch police. The summons was based on a theft complaint filed by a college professor, Nikitha, alleging he had stolen jewellery.
Speaking to reporters, a grief-stricken Malathi posed searing questions about the legality and morality of her son’s treatment. “Was my son a terrorist that he had to be beaten so cruelly? Is there any place in the law for such brutal interrogation?” she asked.
Her narrative paints a picture of profound systemic failure and alleged sadism. She revealed that the incident at the temple occurred around 11 AM, but she was not informed. “They took him to the station only by 2 PM, telling him he was needed because he was ‘sweating a lot’. Why wasn’t I informed immediately? I only got the news by 4:30 PM,” she stated.
The case took a significant turn during the bail hearing for the five accused policemen – Kannan, Raja, Anand, Prabhu, and Sankaramanikandan before Justice Srimathi at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. The CBI, which is now investigating the case, submitted that Ajithkumar’s death was “definitely caused by the police personnel” and that “there is no truth in the complaint given by Nikitha.”
Rejecting the bail pleas, Justice Srimathi made strong observations, stating, “A person has been beaten to death for a matter where there was no crime at all. Isn’t the complainant also responsible for this? Whoever it is, let them remain in jail until the case is over. This incident is deeply painful. The court will teach a lesson to the police department.” The case was adjourned to 17 February 2026 for further hearing.
Malathi’s account aligns with the gravity implied by the court. The methods of torture used defy basic humanity. “They tortured an innocent man who knew nothing. They sprinkled chili powder, denied him water, and beat him with such cruelty,” she said, her voice trembling. “Is there any place in the law for all this? They tied him to a tree and hung him. They even forced him to urinate. My son would have died crouching and shrinking in pain.”
She also raised critical questions about the chain of command, alleging the accused policemen claimed to be acting on orders from a “higher-up.” “They say they did it on the orders of a ‘big place’. Who is this ‘big place’? I need to know,” she demanded, calling for an expansion of the probe.
While expressing a sliver of solace that the court had established her son’s innocence, Malathi’s primary focus remains on complete justice. She insisted that the false complainant, Nikitha, must be arrested and questioned to uncover who instigated the complaint. “Nikitha gave a false complaint. Who told her to give it? She must be arrested,” Malathi asserted.
She also highlighted the plight of four other individuals, Naveen Kumar, Pravin, Pravina Kumar, and Arun who were allegedly assaulted by the police during the same episode but are yet to receive compensation ordered by the court.
With the CBI having filed a nearly 90-page charge sheet and the judiciary taking a stern view, the case is poised for a crucial trial. The victim’s family and their lawyers have emphasized that the investigation must now trace the conspiracy to its roots, identifying all superiors who may have sanctioned or turned a blind eye to the brutal custody that led to an innocent man’s death.
Source: Dinamani
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