Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagenthiran has written a letter to the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), demanding a probe into the custodial death of temple security staff member Ajith Kumar.
In the letter, he states: “I write to you today with deep anguish and grave concern regarding the recent custodial death of Mr Ajith Kumar, a 27-year-old temple security guard from Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu, who died under highly suspicious circumstances while in police custody. Reports from multiple sources strongly suggest custodial torture. Shockingly, the incident occurred in blatant violation of established procedures – with the interrogation allegedly conducted in a moving vehicle and without proper judicial oversight.”
My letter to @India_NHRC appealing for inquiry into the recent custodial death of Mr. Ajith Kumar from Sivaganga District and Alarming Rise in Custodial Deaths in Tamil Nadu.#justiceforajithkumar pic.twitter.com/81TOyk6Lx7
— Nainar Nagenthran (@NainarBJP) July 1, 2025
Explaining further, he said, “This tragic death is not an isolated incident. Tamil Nadu has witnessed an astronomical surge in custodial deaths in recent years. In fact, human rights activists and independent monitors have counted this as the 24th (or possibly 25th) custodial death under the current state government’s tenure. This number is not merely a statistic – it is an indictment of a systemic breakdown in custodial protocol, a climate of impunity, and a lack of institutional accountability.”
The TN BJP chief said, “The rapid cremation of the victim, reports of coercion on the victim’s family, and the initial framing of the death as due to a ‘seizure’ – all point to an attempt to suppress evidence and pre-empt due process. The Hon’ble Madras High Court itself observed that such treatment was more befitting of a terrorist than a civilian suspect.”
Concluding his letter, Nainar Nagenthiran urged the NHRC to constitute a high-level independent investigation into the custodial death of Mr Ajith Kumar under direct monitoring; to seek a detailed report from the Tamil Nadu government on all custodial deaths recorded in the last five years, including action taken and the status of prosecutions; and, thirdly, to ensure compensation and rehabilitation for the families of all victims of custodial violence.
He appealed to the NHRC to act decisively to ensure that Tamil Nadu, under the present DMK government’s rule, does not become a cautionary tale in custodial human rights violations.
Meanwhile, the Thirubuvanam court has remanded the five police personnel arrested in connection with this case to 15 days’ judicial custody.
#JUSTIN | காவலர்களுக்கு 15 நாள் நீதிமன்றக் காவல்#CustodyDeath | #TNPolice | #Sivaganga | #PoliceStation pic.twitter.com/XpeyvaqgV1
— PttvOnlinenews (@PttvNewsX) July 1, 2025
Judicial Magistrate Venkata Prasad has ordered all five to be lodged in prison. This means the accused police officers will be held in a jail under the supervision of the court, rather than in police custody. The court also noted that further investigation is required in the case.
In a separate post on X, Nainar Nagenthiran said he was not raising questions about Ajith Kumar’s death as the president of the state BJP unit or as the leader of the BJP’s legislature party, but “on behalf of a mother who lost her son”. He urged the media to seek answers to these questions from Chief Minister Stalin.
He asked: “Why was Ajith Kumar not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of arrest? Why was he taken to a temple under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department for interrogation?”
Nagenthiran further questioned: “Why was Ajith Kumar allegedly kept in a van after being assaulted with iron rods, instead of being taken to a hospital? Why did government hospitals in Thirubuvanam and Manamadurai reportedly refuse to conduct a medical examination, stating he was already dead?”
Speaking to the media in Chennai on June 30, he added: “Why was he left unconscious inside a police tempo van for four hours instead of being taken to a hospital immediately? Why was the body taken to a private hospital in Madurai after government hospitals refused to conduct an examination?”
He also questioned the transparency of the post-mortem process.
Nagenthiran asked, “Why has the DMK government merely suspended six police personnel instead of charging them with murder? If this isn’t custodial murder, what is? Is the Chief Minister willing to take moral responsibility for this horrific pattern of custodial deaths, or will he continue to remain a mute spectator?”
Taking to its official X handle, the AIADMK questioned whether the police had registered an FIR before arresting Ajith Kumar and the necessity for an officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police to interfere in the case.
தமிழ்நாட்டை உலுக்கிய பல்வேறு முக்கியமான பிரச்சனைகளில் நம்முடைய கேள்விகளே இந்த ஸ்டாலின் மாடல் அரசைத் துளைத்துள்ளன.
அந்த வகையில் திருப்புவனம் அஜித்குமார் காவல் மரணத்திலும் நாம் சில கேள்விகளைக் கேட்க விழைகிறோம்.
1. காவல்துறை அஜித்குமாரை முறைப்படி FIR பதிவு செய்து கைது செய்ததா?… pic.twitter.com/0UQW5aklHz
— AIADMK IT WING – SayYesToWomenSafety&AIADMK (@AIADMKITWINGOFL) June 30, 2025
The party also raised concerns about the hasty cremation of Ajith Kumar’s body following the autopsy, pointing to public apprehensions that this was done to destroy evidence.
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