Sivaganga custodial death case: CBI gets six weeks to complete probe into custodial death case

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday (September 24, 2025) granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) six weeks to complete the investigation into the custodial death of temple security guard B. Ajith Kumar at Thirupuvanam in Sivaganga district in June.

A Division Bench of Justices Anita Sumanth and C. Kumarappan also directed the CBI to complete the probe into the alleged theft of jewellery linked to the case, and file the final report in both cases.

The court was hearing public interest litigation petitions filed in the case. The petitioners had sought a direction to the State government to provide adequate compensation to the victim’s kin, and take action against the erring police officials. They had also called for either a CBI or SIT probe.

Ajith Kumar was a temporary security employee at the Badrakali Amman Temple in Madapuram.

On June 27, Nikitha of Thirumangalam in Madurai district, and her mother visited the temple. Nikitha reportedly handed over their car key to Ajith Kumar, asking him to park the vehicle, saying that she had to help her mother who had difficulty walking. It is alleged that when they returned, they found their bag in the car open and the gold ornaments in it missing. Ajith Kumar was picked up for interrogation. On June 28, he died during the interrogation.

The State government transferred the probe into the cases to the CBI.

5 police personnel held

Five police personnel — Prabhu, Kannan, Sankara Manikandan, Raja, and Anand — were arrested in the case. Ramachandran (police driver) was named an accused.

The government paid a compensation of ₹7.5 lakh to the family of Ajith Kumar. Subsequently, an additional compensation of ₹25 lakh was handed over to the family in accordance with a court direction.