News Brief
Tamil Nadu: Madras HC Directs CBI To File Probe Report In Sivaganga Custodial Death Case By 20 August
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday (8 July) directed the CBI Director to appoint an investigating officer within one week to probe the custodial death of B. Ajith Kumar, a temple security guard in Sivaganga. The court mandated the final report be filed by 20 August.
A Division Bench of Justices S M Subramaniam and A D Maria Clete issued the order while hearing PIL petitions related to the case.
According to a report by The Hindu , the court instructed the CBI officer to collect the inquiry report by the District Judge, other material evidence, and related documents from the High Court’s Registrar Judicial.
The investigating officer was also directed to obtain the report from the jurisdictional Judicial Magistrate and ensure that the post-mortem report is submitted to the appropriate court.
The Inspector General of Police (South Zone) and SPs of Madurai and Sivaganga districts were directed to assist the CBI.
The court acknowledged the detailed report by Fourth Additional District Judge, S. John Sunderlal Suresh.
The state submitted that the case had been transferred to the CBI to ensure impartiality, quoting “Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion.” The related jewel theft case will also be handed to the CBI.
The state raised concerns about court video clips circulating online, which the court said it would address separately.
Six police officers were suspended, five were arrested, and the Manamadurai DSP and Sivaganga SP were removed from their posts.
