Madras HC confirms Ajith Kumar custodial death, asks CBI to appoint investigators

Temple security guard Ajith Kumar

The Madras high court confirmed the custodial death of a 27-year-old temple contractual security guard B Ajith Kumar on Tuesday after observing the report by the sessions court. The high court also asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to appoint investigators in the case within a week, as per News18.

The HC’s Madurai Bench came down heavily on the Tamil Nadu police last week over the custodial death of the temple guard B Ajith Kumar and ordered a judicial probe in the case, asking related documents to be submitted to the judge.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government had shifted out Sivaganga District Superintendent of Police, Ashish Rawat and posted him on "compulsory wait" at the office of Director General of Police (DGP) in Chennai.

Ramanathapuram Superintendent of Police (SP), G Chandeesh, was given the additional charge of the post of Superintendent of Police, Sivaganga district.

The case was transferred to CB-CID (Crime Branch, Crime Investigation Department) for further investigation into the custodial death in Sivaganga district.

While hearing the case, the court had expressed its displeasure and made scathing observations about the Tamil Nadu police.

Hearing a series of petitions seeking a direction to the state to provide adequate compensation and take action against the erring police officials, the high court questioned the brutality and said that the “police drunk with power” attacked Kumar, who was arrested on June 27 for theft of jewellery from a temple.