Sivaganga custodial death case: CFSL in Delhi told to issue report in three weeks

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, New Delhi, to issue its report in the case of custodial death of temple security guard B. Ajith Kumar in Sivaganga district in three weeks and make it available to the Central Bureau of Investigation so that the investigating agency could file its final report in two weeks thereafter.

A Division Bench of Justices Anita Sumanth and C. Kumarappan was told that the report issued by the CFSL, Hyderabad, had been received. Earlier, the CBI submitted that further investigation in the case would be undertaken based on the reports obtained from the laboratories in New Delhi and Hyderabad.

The court was hearing public interest litigation petitions filed with regard to the custodial death. The petitioners had sought a direction to the State government to provide adequate compensation to the victim’s family, and take action against the erring police officials. They had demanded a thorough investigation either by the CBI or an SIT.

On June 27, Nikitha of Tirumangalam and her mother visited the Badrakali Amman Temple in Madapuram. Nikitha reportedly handed over the car key to Ajith Kumar and asked him to park the vehicle as she had to help her mother who had difficulty walking.

It is alleged that when Nikitha and her mother returned, they found their bag in the car open and gold ornaments purportedly kept in it missing. Ajith Kumar was picked up for interrogation. On June 28, he died during the interrogation.

The State government transferred the probe in the case and the alleged theft of jewellery linked to the case to the CBI.

The State government paid a compensation of Rs.7.5 lakh to the family of Ajith Kumar. Subsequently, an additional compensation of Rs.25 lakh was handed over to the family in accordance with the court direction. Six police personnel — Prabhu, Kannan, Sankara Manikandan, Raja, Anand and Ramachandran have been arrested and remanded in judicial custody in connection with the case. The court posted the matter for hearing to November 27.

EOM