In a significant development in the alleged murder case of Jagbir Ali, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has, on January 30, 2025, ordered the exhumation of his body for an X-ray examination. The decision follows allegations that the environmental activist and AIDMK party functionary was deliberately killed under the guise of a road accident.
Background of the Case
Jagbir Ali, a well-known environmental activist and AIADMK functionary from Pudukkottai district, was allegedly murdered on January 17, 2025. Ali had been vocal against illegal quarrying in Thirumayam Taluk, exposing mining activities that reportedly cost the state exchequer nearly ₹840 crore.
On the day of his death, Ali was returning from Kattubhava Mosque when he was run over by a tipper lorry. His wife, Mariam, petitioned the court claiming the incident was not an accident but a premeditated murder carried out by those involved in illegal mining. She accused the police of failing to act on prior complaints made by Ali regarding death threats from influential mining operators in Thulaiyanur including RR Crusher, Punitha Arockya Mary Crusher, and others.
Based on a complaint from Maryam and her suspicion of foul play, the police questioned and arrested four persons on January 19 on charges of murder. They have been identified as R. Rasu (54), R. Dinesh Kumar (25), S. Muruganantham (56), and Kasinathan (45). The four accused have been charged under Section 194(1) of the BNS.
Justice M. Nirmal Kumar, while hearing the petition, observed lapses in the initial investigation and raised concerns over the manner in which the postmortem was conducted. The court noted that despite the suspicious nature of Ali’s death, key forensic procedures were not followed. It was particularly concerned that no X-rays were taken, which are crucial in detecting fractures and internal injuries that could indicate foul play.
The court also took note of the petitioner’s claim that the autopsy did not adhere to NHRC guidelines. Furthermore, it was pointed out that the Government Hospital in Thirumayam, where the postmortem was conducted, lacked proper forensic facilities and body preservation units. Given these discrepancies, the court ruled that an X-ray should be conducted on the exhumed body to ensure transparency. However, it denied the petitioner’s request for a full re-postmortem, restricting the examination to an X-ray under expert supervision.
The DMK government admitted that there were some shortcomings in the initial investigation. The Inspector of Thirumayam Police Station was suspended for negligence, and a new officer had since taken over the probe.
Political Response:
Leader of the opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami condemned the murder, alleging that the DMK government was trying to cover up the involvement of the mining mafia. He said in a post on his X handle, “Is the government trying to divert attention from the case by arresting just the lorry driver and a few others?”
TN BJP chief K. Annamalai, on his social media handle X, said, “The news that Jagbar Ali, the Secretary of the District Amateur Kabaddi Association and a prominent social activist from the Thirumayam area of Pudukottai district, has been killed by mineral resource looters who ran him over with a lorry is very shocking. Jagbar Ali played a major role in the successful conduct of the Modi Kabaddi League matches in Pudukkottai district. He was active in various fields, including natural resource conservation and the prevention of mineral resource theft. Regarding the mineral theft, even after he met with the Thirumayam Taluk Tahsildar and complained 15 days ago, raised the issue with the Assistant Director of the District Mineral Resources Department, and the District Collector multiple times, no action was taken. Now, he has been sacrificed.”
He added, “Tamil Nadu is ruled by anti-social elements and looters to the extent that those who work with the noble aim of protecting natural resources are losing their lives. If government officials and social activists who try to stop the looting of minerals are being killed, what can we say except that the DMK government has emboldened them by repeatedly stating that they can loot sand within ten minutes of coming to power? The DMK government has set a very bad precedent by not taking action against the mineral looters and betraying the person who filed the complaint by revealing his identity. We demand justice for Jagbar Ali’s death. Not only the mineral thieves, but also all the officials who failed to take action on the complaints he made, are responsible for his death.”
புதுக்கோட்டை மாவட்டம் திருமயம் பகுதியைச் சேர்ந்த, மாவட்ட அமெச்சூர் கபடி கழகச் செயலாளரும், சிறந்த சமூக ஆர்வலருமான திரு. ஜெகபர் அலி அவர்கள், கனிம வளக் கொள்ளையர்களால் லாரி ஏற்றிப் படுகொலை செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளார் என்ற செய்தி மிகுந்த அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கிறது.
புதுக்கோட்டை மாவட்டத்தில், மோடி… pic.twitter.com/0vbJKZFSPz
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) January 19, 2025
Following orders from the Commissionerate of Geology and Mining, two teams were formed to conduct the probe. Drone surveys and total station inspections were carried out in quarries around Thirumayam and Thulaiyanur areas.
Pre-planned Murder of Environmental Activist Jagaber Ali in #TamilNadu:
On the death of environmental activist K. Jagaber Ali, allegedly hit by a lorry in a road accident, Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai (@annamalai_k) says, "This was a pre-planned conspiracy. There is a… pic.twitter.com/NGjFYrFmy6
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) January 23, 2025
For slowing slackness in the case, Dy IG of Police Tiruchi range V. Varun Kumar suspended Inspector Gunasekaran of Thirumayam police station.
Activist Jagaber Ali murder case: Thirumayam inspector Gunesakaran placed under suspension
Gunasekaran delayed filing of the FIR for more than 20 hours, procedural lapses & was in touch with the mining mafia. https://t.co/Zd8hF8xtes
— Shabbir Ahmed (@Ahmedshabbir20) January 26, 2025
Netizen Shabbir Ahamed questions, “Why was no action taken against the Collector, SP, who did not even bother to visit the spot, and the Thasildar who is accused of leaking the complaint?”
Thirumayam Inspector Gunasekaran who delayed filing an FIR in Activist Jagaber Ali murder case has been suspended.
No action against the Collector, SP who did not even bother to visit the spot & the Thasildar who is accused of leaking the complaint. https://t.co/VVRh6g1c0C
— Shabbir Ahmed (@Ahmedshabbir20) January 26, 2025
BJP functionary Vinoth P. Selvam said, “Ali was murdered to cover up the Rs. 840 crore loot. Does CM MK Stalin know about the killing of Jagbar Ali? Why did the Law Minister and Thirumayam constituency MLA S. Raghupathy not comment on the issue? Why did the TN media not conduct any debate over his killing by the quarry mafia?.”
தமிழ்நாட்டில் எந்த ஊடகமாவது இதுகுறித்து விவாதம் நடத்தியதா?
840 கோடி ரூபாய் அளவிலான கொள்ளையை மறைக்க சமூக ஆர்வலர் ஜெகபர் அலி கொலை செய்யப்பட்ட விவரம் முதல்வர் @mkstalin அவர்களுக்கு தெரியுமா, தெரியாதா?
திருமயம் பகுதி கனிமவள கொள்ளை குறித்து அத்தொகுதியின் எம்எல்ஏ-வும், சட்டத்துறை… https://t.co/QMS5yZWQf6
— Vinoj P Selvam (@VinojBJP) January 24, 2025
Arapore Iyakkam, an anti-corruption NGO, Jayararam Venkatesan, says a life was lost for exposing irregularities in quarrying.
Murder of social activist who fought illegal quarrying is shocking. Illegal quarrying in TN is happening with full support of TN Govt. A life is lost ! pic.twitter.com/HpZtCom6xk
— Jayaram Venkatesan (@JayaramArappor) January 19, 2025
Human rights activist Henry Tiphagne alleges a nexus between officials and illegal quarry owners. He revealed the names of the officials involved and demanded stern action against them, in addition to a CBI probe into the matter.
ஜாபர் அலி படுகொலைக்கு துணை போன அதிகாரிகளை அம்பலப்படுத்திய வழக்கறிஞர் ஹென்றி தீபேன். pic.twitter.com/hALETCOxdg
— மணிகண்டன் பழனிசாமி (@Manipalani650) January 25, 2025
In a significant development, the CB-CID has now taken charge of the investigation into the murder of Jagbar Ali. The shift to CB-CID comes after mounting pressure for a thorough probe.
Illegal mining: Tamil Nadu government has issued orders asking VV Minerals and other beach sand miners to pay Rs 3500 crore as cost of mineral and royalties towards the huge amounts of illegaly mined beach sand in Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts in the 2002-3 to 2013-14… https://t.co/oTaOOZHzsq pic.twitter.com/LnbpHN0Hxp
— Thinakaran Rajamani (@thinak_) January 22, 2025
In a related matter, journalist Thinakaran Rajamani reports, “Illegal mining: The Tamil Nadu government has issued orders asking VV Minerals and other beach sand miners to pay Rs. 3,500 crore as the cost of minerals and royalties towards the huge amounts of illegally mined beach sand in Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts from the 2002-03 to 2013-14 period.”
