Suspended Police Officer Moves High Court Over Caste Killing Case Documents
Suspended police sub-inspector K Saravanan, the father of Surjith who is the primary accused in the caste-based murder of IT professional C Kavin Selva Ganesh, has approached the Madras High Court. He filed a petition on Tuesday requesting the court to direct the trial court to provide him with copies of police reports and other essential documents under Section 230 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
Court Issues Notice to CB-CID
Justice L Victoria Gowri has ordered a notice to be issued to the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) regarding Saravanan's petition. The petition specifically seeks a directive to the II Additional District Court (PCR) in Tirunelveli to furnish the required documents.
Petitioner's Arguments for Fair Trial Rights
In his legal submission, Saravanan argued that the failure to supply mandatory documents, despite his regular appearances before the trial court and repeated applications for copies, severely hampers his ability to prepare an effective defense. He emphasized that this non-supply infringes upon the constitutional guarantee of a fair trial as enshrined in Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
Saravanan asserted that an accused's right to receive all documents and statements submitted to the court is absolute and must be strictly followed by both the prosecution and the judiciary. He stated that the principles of a fair trial and due process inherently include fairness, which is compromised when an accused is denied access to materials necessary to comprehend the allegations against them.
Furthermore, he contended that continuing legal proceedings without providing these essential copies constitutes an abuse of the court's process and causes significant prejudice to his case. This led him to seek judicial intervention through the High Court.
Background of the Caste Killing Case
The prosecution's case outlines that the victim, C Kavin Selva Ganesh, was a member of the Scheduled Caste community from Tuticorin district and worked as an IT employee in Chennai. He was in a relationship with S Subhashini, who belongs to the Maravar community and resides in Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli district.
On July 27, 2025, Subhashini's brother, Surjith, allegedly murdered Ganesh at KTC Nagar. Following the incident, police arrested Surjith, his father Saravanan, and their cousin Jayapal. Surjith's mother, Krishnakumari, also a sub-inspector and an accused in the case, was suspended from duty. The investigation was subsequently transferred to the CB-CID for further scrutiny.
