Tamil Nadu custodial death: CBI to probe Ajith Kumar case; postmortem showed 44 injuries, internal bleeding

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the probe into the alleged custodial death of 27-year-old Ajith Kumar, a temple guard from Sivagangai district in Tamil Nadu, officials said on Saturday. The CBI registered a case on July 12 against unidentified police personnel from Sivagangai, days after the Tamil Nadu government transferred the investigation to the agency. According to officials, the case has been registered under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which pertains to causing death by negligence of a public servant.

Autopsy confirms multiple injuries, signs of torture

Earlier this month, a postmortem report conducted by forensic experts at Madurai Medical College confirmed that Ajith Kumar had suffered multiple external and internal injuries, strongly suggesting custodial torture. Externally, the report described abrasions and scabs on his forehead, face, limbs, and torso. Internally, petechial haemorrhages were found in both parietal lobes of the brain, indicating head trauma, along with bleeding near the heart and abdominal region. The report documented 44 separate injury points, including linear contusions on his shoulders, arms, chest, back, abdomen, thighs, legs, hands, and feet.

Most of these were parallel, overlapping, and showed central pale zones, which forensic experts said were consistent with repeated beatings using a blunt object. Bloodstains were also found around both ears, and brownish fluid was seen coming from the nostrils and the corner of the mouth. A dark red bruise was noted on the left upper eyelid. Notably, the postmortem examination was conducted more than 18 hours after Ajith was brought dead to the hospital at 11.15pm on June 28. The autopsy began at 5.45pm the following day and lasted until 9.20pm.