Madurai, Nov 4 (IANS) In a significant development in the sensational custodial death case of temple security guard B. Ajith Kumar, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday rejected petitions filed by four police personnel challenging their judicial remand and ordered the trial court to conclude proceedings within nine months.
The court order comes amid continuing scrutiny of the investigation into the death of the 29-year-old security guard, who allegedly suffered fatal injuries during police questioning in June 2025.
The case had triggered widespread outrage over custodial violence and prompted the Tamil Nadu government to hand over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Justice Murugan dismissed the petitions filed by former Manamadurai Deputy Superintendent of Police N. Shanmugasundaram, former Thiruppuvanam Inspector S.P. Ramesh Kumar, Special Sub-Inspector S. Sivakumar and Head Constable G. Ilayaraja.
The four officers had challenged the September 16 order of the Additional District and Sessions Court in Madurai, which remanded them in judicial custody after framing charges against 10 police personnel, including murder under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The petitioners said that they had consistently appeared before the trial court, cooperated with investigators and previously secured judicial protection against arrest.
They added that their subsequent remand was unjustified.
However, counsel representing Ajith Kumar’s family opposed their release, raising concerns that the accused might influence witnesses and interfere with the trial.
Ajith Kumar, employed at the Madapuram Badrakali Amman Temple, died on June 28, 2025, after being detained by a special police team investigating an alleged jewellery theft.
The CBI filed its initial chargesheet against six police personnel on August 20, 2025, followed by a supplementary chargesheet on December 12, naming four additional officers.
The trial court had cited allegations that the officers fabricated police records, altered General Diary entries and destroyed mobile phones to suppress evidence.
Investigators also alleged that Shanmugasundaram attempted to negotiate a compromise with the victim’s parents through local political intermediaries.
The prosecution also raised concerns over the withdrawal of police protection provided to Ajith Kumar’s brother Naveen Kumar, a crucial witness.
After considering submissions from both sides, the High Court upheld the remand, clearing the way for the trial to proceed under a nine-month deadline.
–IANS
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