27‑year‑old Ajith Kumar died after custodial torture; CBI probe ordered following court intervention over brutal police abuse
1 July 2025, New Delhi
In a shocking case of alleged custodial torture, Ajith Kumar, a 27-year-old temple security guard at the Bathrakaliamman Temple in Madapuram, died after being brutally beaten while in police custody at Tiruppuvanam police station on June 28. His death has ignited widespread condemnation and led to legal and political tremors across Tamil Nadu.
Ajith Kumar was first picked up by the police for questioning in a theft case and briefly released. But just hours later, he was taken back into custody — a move that would prove fatal. Shocking CCTV and mobile footage now circulating online shows Ajith tied up and brutally assaulted with iron rods and plastic pipes. The visuals paint a grim picture: a young man restrained, mercilessly beaten, and denied even a sip of water or basic medical aid.
A preliminary post-mortem conducted at Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital confirmed multiple external injuries, including deep bruises and blunt-force trauma, pointing directly to custodial violence. Forensic experts noted that the injuries were severe enough to trigger cardiac arrest or systemic shock.
In swift action following public outcry, five police personnel—including constables and trainees—have been arrested and six others suspended. The Superintendent of Police has been removed from duty. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), while the Madras High Court has ordered a judicial probe, condemning the violence as “worse than an act by a murderer.”
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Programs of protest erupted in Sivaganga, with locals blocking police vehicles and demanding justice. Actor and politician Vijay, along with several opposition leaders, have called for the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and questioned the DMK government’s handling of custodial deaths—more than two dozen have been reported since 2021.
The judicial inquiry, led by the District Judge of Sivaganga, has been instructed to submit a detailed report by July 8, even as the CBI begins its independent investigation. Legal experts and rights groups are closely watching the case, calling for institutional reforms and better safeguards against police excesses.
Ajith Kumar’s death is the latest in a troubling series of custodial deaths in India and has reignited national debate on police accountability, human rights, and the urgent need for structural reform within law enforcement.