Madras High Court Orders CBCID Investigation Into Alleged Custodial Death of Scheduled Caste Youth in Tamil Nadu

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ordered a Crime Branch-CID investigation into the alleged custodial death of 30-year-old Dinesh Kumar in Madurai. The court also mandated an immediate postmortem examination and the preservation of CCTV footage from the area surrounding the Vandiyur check post.

This judicial directive followed a Public Interest Litigation filed by C. Selvakumar, an advocate and President of the Madurai District Devendrakula Velalar Uravinar Sangam. The petition alleged that Dinesh Kumar, a young man from the Scheduled Caste community, died from torture while in police custody on October 9.

According to court documents, Dinesh Kumar, who resided with his family in Yagappa Nagar, Madurai, was apprehended by officers from E3 Anna Nagar Police Station at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Thursday for questioning. The petitioner contends that later that day, Dinesh's mother, Muthulakshmi, was informed that her son had "escaped and fallen into a canal" – a narrative the family believes was fabricated to conceal evidence of custodial torture.

In her formal complaint to the Madurai City Police Commissioner, Muthulakshmi alleged that Inspector Flower Sheela, along with constables Nagaraj, Kamu, and another unidentified officer, forcibly entered their residence, physically assaulted her son, and transported him away in a police vehicle.

The mother's statement additionally accuses the officers of caste-based verbal abuse and ongoing harassment. She claimed that one of the implicated officers had previously threatened her husband with the words, "You people of this caste dare to question the police? I will kill your son."

Family members revealed that Dinesh had recently secured employment with a private company and was scheduled to begin work on the very day of his death.

The petitioner's court submission further alleged that no First Information Report was registered despite multiple requests, and that custodial protections established by the Supreme Court in landmark cases like D.K. Basu and Nilabati Behera were violated. The petition also highlighted that Inspector Flower Sheela had previously received censure from the High Court for misconduct yet remained in her position.

In response to the incident, state police authorities have transferred the officer in question.

Selvakumar has requested the court to direct the CBCID to register and investigate the case under applicable sections of the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Additionally, he sought interim compensation of ₹25 lakh for the victim's family and government employment for one eligible family member.

Police officials have denied allegations of custodial torture, maintaining that Dinesh escaped from custody and accidentally drowned in a nearby water body.

This case emerges shortly after another alleged custodial death in the region, where Ajit Kumar, a security guard in neighboring Sivaganga district, reportedly died from police torture while in custody.