Sivaganga Custodial Death Case Transferred to CB-CID After Court Hearing
The Tamil Nadu government has officially transferred the investigation into the death of a 26-year-old Dalit man, who suffered fatal injuries while in police custody in Sivaganga district, to the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) based in Madurai. This significant development follows a court hearing where the state confirmed the transfer of the case, which was originally registered by the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) police station under Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS).
Court Directs Postmortem and Investigation Transfer
During the hearing before Justice R. Vijayakumar of the Madurai bench, the state government submitted that it would comply with the court's directions regarding the case. The court subsequently ordered the dean of GRH to conduct the postmortem examination on Monday itself, in the presence of a judicial magistrate, adhering strictly to established guidelines. Officials from GRH confirmed that the autopsy was performed as per the high court's directive, and the body has been kept in the mortuary at the request of the victim's family.
Petitioner's Allegations and State's Response
The petition was filed by the victim's father, A. Rajesh Kannan from Manamadurai in Sivaganga district. In his plea, Kannan sought several key actions:
- A direction to the state to register an independent criminal case for murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, based on his complaint alleging custodial torture.
- Transfer of the investigation to the CB-CID to ensure an impartial probe.
- Immediate conduct of a postmortem in accordance with court-issued guidelines.
In response, the state government contested the allegations, asserting that this was not a case of custodial torture. According to their submission, the man was never taken to the Manamadurai police station. Instead, they claimed he jumped from a bridge while attempting to escape from the police. He was initially treated at the government hospital in Manamadurai, then transferred to the Sivaganga Government Medical College Hospital, and later to GRH in Madurai, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Background of the Incident and Public Reaction
The death of Aakash has sparked widespread allegations of police torture and custodial violence, leading to significant public unrest. Following his death, protesters blocked the national highway in Manamadurai, disrupting general traffic and drawing attention to the case. In court, the counsel for the petitioner agreed to request the victim's family to appeal to the protesters to disperse and assured that the family would cooperate with the postmortem process.
Police accounts state that Aakash was apprehended near the Melapasalai flyover after a machete attack on two individuals. They allege that he suffered a severe leg fracture after jumping off the flyover to evade arrest. However, his father, Rajesh Kannan, has countered this narrative, accusing the police of intentionally crushing his son's legs between stones, which he claims led to fatal blood loss.
Police Classification and Ongoing Investigation
Senior police officials have classified Aakash as a "C-category rowdy" with multiple pending cases against him. They maintain that he died while under judicial custody and receiving medical treatment, emphasizing that the circumstances do not point to custodial torture. With the case now transferred to the CB-CID, the investigation is expected to proceed with heightened scrutiny, aiming to uncover the truth behind the conflicting accounts and ensure justice in this sensitive matter involving allegations of caste-based violence and police misconduct.
