Sivaganga: Tamil Nadu is once again gripped by outrage following the alleged custodial death of a 27-year-old temple security guard, B Ajith Kumar, in Sivaganga district. The incident, which occurred on June 28 during a police inquiry into a gold jewellery missing complaint, has ignited fierce condemnation from human rights activists and opposition parties, who accuse the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government of hypocrisy and a pattern of unchecked police brutality.
Critics are drawing sharp parallels to the infamous Sathankulam custodial deaths of Jeyaraj and Bennix five years ago, a case that saw widespread condemnation and financial compensation from the then AIADMK government. Now, the tables have turned, with the AIADMK, BJP, and other parties vociferously demanding justice for Ajith Kumar, alleging he was subjected to “third-degree interrogation” methods that ultimately cost him his life. They contend that because the victim is Hindu, the DMK and its allies, who were vociferous then, are now maintaining a conspicuous silence, treating this as “another routine lockup death.”
Ajith Kumar, employed under the Tamil Nadu’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, was picked up as a suspect on June 27 in connection with a complaint filed by 76-year-old Sivakami and her doctor daughter Nikitha from Madurai. The women alleged that 9.5 sovereign gold jewels went missing from their car after Ajith Kumar assisted them with parking at the Bhadrakaaliamman temple. Ajith, who did not know driving, had reportedly sought help from another person to park the vehicle.
His family has presented a harrowing account of his final hours. “Ajith was brutally beaten, resulting in blood oozing till day dawn. He died during custody,” his family members told the media.
BJP functionary Amar Prasad Reddy took to social media to express his anguish and criticize the DMK government, stating, “B. Ajith Kumar (27), a temple security guard, was tortured to death in police custody in Sivaganga. No proof. No justice. Just brutality. Since DMK came to power, Tamil Nadu recorded 109 custodial deaths in a single year (2021–22). 24+ torture-linked deaths since 2022. Is this the Dravidian Model? Or a state-approved slaughterhouse? @CMOTamilnadu”.
அதிமுக ஆட்சியில் சாத்தான்குளம் ஜெயராஜ், பென்னிக்ஸ் லாக்கப் மரணம்.
தற்போது திமுக ஆட்சியிலும் தொடரும் அவலம் 😤
— JEYAN J (@Kumari_Jeyan) June 30, 2025
The raw grief of Ajith Kumar’s mother, wailing, “I wanted him to come back alive,” has resonated widely, amplifying the demand for accountability.
திமுகவின் – திராவிட மாடல் ஆட்சி..
இது தான்…👇👇" அய்யோ என் பையன் இப்படி வாய் மூடி இருக்க மாட்டானே..? அம்மாவ பாருடா அஜித்தே..! " விசாரணைக்காக அழைத்து செல்லப்பட்டு போலீசாரால் தாக்கப்பட்டு உயிரிழந்த தனது மகன் உடலை பார்த்து கதறி அழுத தாயார் மற்றும் உறவினர்கள்..!!
அந்தத்தாய்க்கு… pic.twitter.com/BBYeyxQ2ES
— இந்துத்துவம் 🚩 (@VVR_Krish) June 29, 2025
Ajith Kumar’s brother, Naveen, emphatically stated, “We want justice, not compensation. This should be the last such incident. It should not happen to anyone. This is our true faithful demand.” Naveen further alleged that Ajith Kumar was “reportedly tortured for 18 hours without any formal legal procedure.” Witnesses claim he was “beaten with rods, tied to a tree, and forced to drink chilli-laced water.” Naveen also bravely recounted how he too was allegedly beaten to coerce a false confession. “A team has taken us from our house, not to the police station but to different place including to an isolated place, were we were thrashed badly with our hands tied. Ajith He was unable to bear the beating, lied that he would show the place, a cowshed, where the jewels are kept. On being taken there, he was beaten again and he collapsed.”
#JUSTIN | எங்களுக்கு நீதிதான் வேண்டும். எந்த நிவாரணமும் தேவை இல்லை – அஜித்குமாரின் சகோதரர் நவீன் #CustodyDeath | #Police | #Tiruppuvanam | #Sivaganga | #PoliceStation pic.twitter.com/321kUoMkQy
— PttvOnlinenews (@PttvNewsX) June 30, 2025
The incident has sparked protests demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, with activists pointing to a disturbing pattern of custodial deaths in the state. There are also allegations that DMK functionaries have offered monetary help and a government job to the victim’s family, perceived by some as an attempt to dilute the severity of the case and quell protests.
According to reports, since 2022, 24 custodial deaths have occurred in Tamil Nadu as a direct result of police torture. These include the horrific case of a 17-year-old in a Chengalpattu juvenile home who reportedly sustained 96 injury marks. Critics lament that despite a Supreme Court mandate in 2020 for fully functional CCTV cameras in all police stations, the Tamil Nadu government has not taken it seriously. While the TN DGP claimed that 99% of stations had CCTVs, reports suggest even Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) offices lack such surveillance. The fifth Tamil Nadu Police Commission Report had also recommended prompt investigations and strong action against custodial violence.
Journalist Thinakaran Rajamani critically observed, “under the Dravidian Model DMK government custodial death continues unabated.”
#Ajithkumar's family says suspension is not enough & demands murder case be registered against police personnel involved in the alleged Sivaganga #CustodialDeath #JusticeForAjithkumar pic.twitter.com/CVpl6dFZnB
— Thinakaran Rajamani (@thinak_) June 30, 2025
Data cited by critics paints a grim picture: The National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) documented 2152 deaths in judicial custody and 155 deaths in police custody across India until February 28, 2022, for the period 2021-22. In 2024 alone, over 300 accused persons reportedly entered Chennai’s Puzhal Prison with broken limbs, which police notoriously attributed to “slippery toilets.” Additionally, 21 encounter killings have been reported since 2021 in Tamil Nadu.
Adding to the mounting pressure, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court took suo motu cognizance of Ajith Kumar’s death on June 30. Justices SM Subramaniyam and CV Karthikeyan sternly questioned the police, asking, “Was he a terrorist to deserve this?” The court remarked, “It is understandable if the police had acted in self-defence when the victim posed a threat with weapons. But why in this case?” It has directed the police to file a comprehensive report on all custodial deaths in the last four years.
Meanwhile, the AIADMK legal wing has filed a separate petition, asserting that 24 custodial deaths have taken place during the past four years. Thirupuvanam judicial magistrate R. Venkadesh Prasanth has commenced an inquiry into Ajith Kumar’s death.
Following widespread protests, Superintendent of Police Ashish Rawat suspended constables Raja, Sankara Manikandan, Prabhu, Anand, and head constable Kannan. Leaders from AIADMK, BJP, PMK, NTK, TVK, and others have strongly condemned the death, demanding strict action against all involved police personnel and compensation for the bereaved family. The hashtag #justiceforAjithkumar trended on social media.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami sought a judicial inquiry by the district judge, demanding that those responsible be brought to book and that the state provide compensation. Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran echoed these sentiments, stating, “Ajithkumar’s relatives have said that he died due to the manhandling… CM M.K. Stalin, who is directly supervising the functioning of the police department, should ensure justice for the death.”
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