The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to file a counter affidavit on a public interest litigation seeking a CB-CID investigation into the death of a Dalit youth, Hariharan, whose body was discovered in a quarry in Pudukkottai district. A division bench comprising Justices P Velmurugan and C Kumarappan also restrained the local police from filing a final report before the concerned criminal court until further orders.
Background of the Case
The petition was filed by K Muruganandam, the Pudukkottai district coordinator of Neelam Panpattu Maiyam. According to the petitioner, Hariharan, a Scheduled Caste youth, was in a consensual relationship with a woman from an intermediate caste. The woman's family opposed this relationship. The couple eloped in November 2025 after facing threats from the woman's family. Although the police had earlier warned the family members, the petitioner alleged that no protection was provided to the youth or his family despite continued threats.
Sequence of Events
Hariharan left home on April 21 after receiving a call from the woman regarding a forced marriage and subsequently went missing. His body, bearing injury marks, was found in a quarry on April 23. The petitioner stated, "The nature of the injuries and the surrounding circumstances give rise to a strong suspicion of homicide," alleging bias on the part of the local police and demanding an impartial probe by the CB-CID.
Demands and Court Orders
The plea also sought compensation for the family and a government job for a family member. The court posted the matter after two weeks for the state to file its counter. Until then, the police have been restrained from filing a final report.
