Justice L. Victoria Gowri issued the direction to the CB-CID while hearing the petitions filed by the accused, K. Saravanan, father of main accused Surjith, and K. Jayapal, Surjith’s cousin.
After the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) produced the CCTV footage recorded on Tirunelveli- Seevalaperi stretch on July 27, 2025, the day techie Kavin Selvaganesh, who belonged to a Scheduled Caste, was murdered allegedly by the brother of his caste Hindu girlfriend, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the CB-CID to peruse the footage and file a report.
Justice L. Victoria Gowri issued the direction while hearing the petitions filed by the accused, K. Saravanan, father of main accused Surjith and K. Jayapal, Surjith’s cousin, who sought a direction to quash CB-CID’s charge-sheet filed against them. Earlier, the court had directed the NHAI to produce the CCTV footage.
Saravanan said the prosecution alleged that he facilitated the hiding of Surjith in a quarry (after the crime). The distance between the place of murder and the hideout was 15-20 km and there were 20-25 CCTV cameras along the route. Despite the availability of such crucial electronic evidence, the prosecution had failed to produce any CCTV footage showing whether he travelled to the quarry, Jayapal went there after Surjith’s arrival, or the duration of their alleged stay.
The petitioner said if such footage had been produced, it would clearly establish he was not present at the hideout and he was the one who handed over Surjith to the police on the highway. The deliberate non-collection and suppression of this vital evidence demonstrated that the prosecution avoided producing material which would have exonerated him.
Jayapal said he learnt about the incident only after Surjith reached the quarry. The prosecution case, even as pleaded in the final report, did not disclose any material to show he had prior knowledge of the crime or that he prearranged shelter for Surjith.
The sequence of events indicated that Surjith independently proceeded to the quarry. Only after Surjith’s arrival he knew about the incident. There was no admissible material such as prior call, message or independent witness to establish he directed Surjith towards the quarry.
Kavin Selvaganesh from Arumugamangalam near Eral in Thoothukudi district was in a relationship with Siddha doctor S. Subhashini of Palayamkottai.
Kavin was murdered on July 27, 2025, allegedly by Ms. Subhashini’s younger brother Surjith. The police arrested Surjith, his father Saravanan, a Sub-Inspector of Police, who has now been placed under suspension, and cousin Jayapal for assisting him. Surjith’s mother Krishnakumari, also an SI, has been placed under suspension.
Published – February 03, 2026 07:54 pm IST
