A Madurai court has ordered that murder charges be framed against four police personnel, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, in the case related to the death of Madappuram temple guard Ajith Kumar.
The case, which triggered widespread outrage in Tamil Nadu, stems from a complaint filed on June 27 last year by a woman named Nikitha, alleging that her jewellery had been stolen. Ajith Kumar, who worked as a guard at the Madappuram temple in Tiruppuvanam, Sivaganga district, was taken in for questioning by a special police team.
Ajith Kumar later died after being assaulted by police personnel, according to the case details. The investigation was taken up by the CBI, and special team policemen were arrested earlier.
In the additional charge sheet, the names of Manamadurai DSP Shanmugasundaram, Tiruppuvanam Inspector Ramesh Kumar, Sub-Inspector Sivakumar and head constable Ilaiyaraja were included. When the matter came up before the 5th Additional District Court in Madurai, Judge Damodharan ordered murder charges to be recorded against the four and directed that they be remanded in custody.
