A court in Madurai has firmly rejected the bail applications of two police constables arrested in connection with the custodial death of temple security guard B Ajith Kumar in 2025. The fifth additional district court delivered the ruling on Saturday, underscoring the serious nature of offences involving deaths in police custody.
Court Rejects Defence, Upholds Prosecution's Stand
The bail petitions were filed by constables S Sankaramanikandan and P Ramachandran, identified as the third and sixth accused in the case. They were arrested and remanded to judicial custody on July 1 and October 17, 2025, respectively. Their counsel argued that the policemen were merely following orders from superiors and claimed the victim's death resulted from a medical condition, not assault. They alleged that evidence, including videos, was fabricated to protect higher officials and placate public sentiment.
However, the CBI's public prosecutor presented a starkly different narrative. The prosecution contended there was ample evidence of a criminal conspiracy where the accused, along with others, illegally detained Ajith Kumar, brutally assaulted him with lethal weapons to extract a confession, leading to fatal injuries. The prosecutor strongly opposed bail, arguing that as police personnel, the accused could easily influence and threaten witnesses, who are poor villagers, if released.
Judge's Scathing Observations on Police Overreach
Additional District Judge R Joseph Joy delivered a detailed order dismissing the bail pleas. The judge made several critical observations:
- The accused policemen had no legal right to keep Ajith Kumar in illegal custody or attack him for a confession.
- They also had no legal authority to investigate the alleged crime they were questioning him about.
- There was no evidence to support the initial claim that Ajith Kumar had stolen jewellery from a woman named Nikitha.
- The deceased was not a habitual offender.
The judge emphasized that the Supreme Court has clarified the grave seriousness of custodial death offences. In such cases, bail should generally be denied to police personnel due to the high risk of witness and evidence tampering. The court agreed with the prosecution's fear that witnesses might hesitate to speak the truth if the accused were freed.
Background of the Tragic Incident
The case stems from a tragic incident on June 28, 2025. B Ajith Kumar, who worked at the Batharakaliamman temple in Madapuram, died during police interrogation in Thirupuvanam, Sivaganga district. He had been detained for questioning in a case involving the alleged theft of gold jewellery from a car. The car belonged to Nikitha, who had visited the temple with her mother a day earlier. His death in custody sparked outrage and led to the CBI taking over the investigation.
This ruling marks a significant step in a case that highlights critical issues of police accountability and custodial justice in India. The court's refusal to grant bail reinforces the principle that those entrusted with law enforcement are not above the law.
