The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court strongly criticised the Tamil Nadu Police over the custodial death of 27-year-old temple guard Ajith Kumar.
During the hearing on Tuesday, the court made scathing observations about the state police, stating that officers “drunk on power” had attacked the victim, who was arrested on 27 June in connection with a jewellery theft at a temple.
The Tamil Nadu government informed the court that the case had been classified as murder, based on post-mortem findings.
Following Ajith Kumar’s death in custody, six police personnel involved in the incident were suspended.
The court held the police force responsible for the death, stating, “The police collectively committed this act. This is a brutal act.”
Questioning the state government’s claims of social progress, the court remarked, “In certain North Indian states where literacy rates are lower, such incidents do not occur. In Tamil Nadu, where the government claims to be a pioneer in all aspects, how can such an incident be allowed?”
The court observed that such incidents have no place in an educationally advanced state like Tamil Nadu, adding, “This should never happen in any police station.”
The court also referenced the June 2020 custodial deaths of Jayaraj and Bennix, stating, “The public is watching. No one has forgotten the Jayaraj and Bennix case.”
P. Jayaraj and his son J. Bennix from Sathankulam, Tamil Nadu, were subjected to extreme physical and sexual abuse in police custody. Both succumbed to their injuries three days after the alleged torture, sparking widespread outrage across the state.
