Five police personnel were arrested late on Monday, 30 June 2025, in connection with the custodial death of Ajithkumar (27), a temple security guard at the Madapuram Kaliamman temple in Sivaganga district. Murder charges have also been invoked. The arrest followed a postmortem report that revealed severe injuries, including a brain haemorrhage, sustained allegedly during police interrogation in a theft case.
As per reports, the officers were identified as Raja, Sankara Manikandan, Ramachandran, Prabhu, Anand (Head Constable), and Kannan.
Ajithkumar was reportedly picked up by the police on Saturday, 28 June 2025, and allegedly assaulted while in custody. He died later, prompting a swift official response. An official release issued Monday night confirmed that six personnel had been placed under suspension on 28 June 2025, and that further action was taken “without any delay” after the autopsy findings were received.
According to sources familiar with the postmortem conducted at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai on Sunday, 29 June 2025, Ajithkumar had suffered brain haemorrhage and bore more than 30 contusion injuries. However, no bone fractures were found. His body samples have been sent for further forensic analysis, and the final autopsy report is expected only after these results are collated. The preliminary report may be submitted to the investigating officer on Tuesday, 1 July 2025.
Following the postmortem, Ajithkumar’s body was handed over to his family late Sunday and was cremated later that day.
Meanwhile, a judicial enquiry into the incident has been ordered. On Monday, District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate of Thirupuvanam, R Venkadesh Prasanth, visited the sites near the temple where the alleged custodial assault took place. Sivaganga police officials stated that the theft case in which Ajithkumar had been detained is still under investigation.
Advocates have called for judicial intervention. E Marees Kumar, the state deputy secretary of the AIADMK’s advocate wing, and others approached the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, urging the initiation of suo motu proceedings into the custodial death. The bench comprising Justices S M Subramaniam and A D Maria Clete stated it would consider the matter once a formal petition is filed.
During the interaction, the government counsel questioned the claim made by advocates regarding the frequency of custodial deaths in the state over the past four years. In response, the bench questioned the need for such a level of force against a person arrested in a routine theft case and who was unarmed.
Marees Kumar also filed a separate petition seeking 50 lakh rupees as compensation for Ajithkumar’s family and the registration of a murder case against the responsible police personnel. He further sought a direction to transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a retired judge of the Madras High Court.
(With inputs from The New Indian Express)
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