Sivaganga custodial demise case: Madras High Court directs T.N. authorities to pay 25 lakh as interim compensation

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu authorities to pay ₹25 lakh as interim compensation to the household of temple safety guard B. Ajith Kumar who died in police custody in Sivaganga district final month.

A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete requested the State to pay ₹25 lakh, along with ₹7.50 lakh as compensation already handed over to Ajith Kumar’s household. The court docket mentioned ₹7.50 lakh was insufficient and identified that greater compensation had been paid in comparable instances of custodial torture.

The court docket was listening to public curiosity litigation petitions on the custodial demise.

‘Government job given to brother’

The State knowledgeable the court docket that other than the compensation, a authorities job was given to Ajith Kumar’s brother and land to their mom. It mentioned the court docket’s instructions had been complied with. The case of the custodial demise and the case of alleged theft of jewels had been transferred to the CBI, which began its probe, it mentioned.

The CBI staff collected the paperwork and supplies related to the case from the High Court Registry. It additionally collected the report of the District Judge. The Inspector-General of Police (South Zone) rendered help to the staff and additional help could be supplied, the State knowledgeable the court docket.

‘No safety for witnesses’

Counsel for the petitioners submitted that safety for the witnesses, in accordance with the Witness Protection Scheme, had not been applied but. The court docket directed the Principal District Judge, Sivaganga, to listen to and get rid of the functions for cover in seven working days.

The CBI is anticipated to finish the investigation, as directed by the court docket, and file the ultimate report, the court docket mentioned, posting the matter for listening to on August 20.