CBI Closes Jewelry Theft Case Against Security Guard Who Died in Police Custody
In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the Madras High Court on Wednesday that the jewelry theft case against B Ajith Kumar, a security guard who was beaten to death while in police custody, has been officially closed due to a complete lack of evidence. This revelation came during a hearing before Justice S Srimathy, who expressed profound dismay at the tragic outcome.
Judge's Stern Remarks on Tragic Death
When Justice S Srimathy directly questioned whether the allegations of jewelry theft against Ajith Kumar held any truth, the CBI representatives responded in the negative. This prompted the judge to make a poignant observation, stating that a person had been brutally beaten to death for absolutely nothing. The court then inquired whether legal action would be initiated against the complainant, Nikitha from Madurai district, who was identified as the root cause of the entire incident.
In response, the CBI submitted that a detailed report would be filed regarding this specific aspect. The hearing primarily focused on the bail petitions filed by four police personnel—Ananth, Raja, Prabhu, and Sankaramanikandan—who were arrested following the custodial death. Further proceedings on these bail petitions have been adjourned to February 16.
Background of the Custodial Death Case
B Ajith Kumar was employed as a security guard at the Batharakaliamman temple in Madapuram when he was arrested on charges of stealing gold jewelry from a car owned by Nikitha. The arrest led to a horrific sequence of events, with Kumar being severely thrashed by police officers, resulting in his death in custody on June 28, 2025.
The incident sparked widespread public outrage, compelling the state government to transfer both the custodial death case and the connected jewelry theft investigation to the CBI. The central agency subsequently arrested six policemen involved in the case:
- Prabhu
- Kannan
- Sankaramanikandan
- Raja
- Ananth
- Ramachandran (the driver of the van used to transport Ajith Kumar)
Expanded Chargesheet and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Initially, the CBI filed its final report before the Fifth Additional District and Sessions Court in Madurai, naming the six police personnel as accused. However, the agency later submitted a supplementary chargesheet, expanding the list to include four additional officers:
- The then Manamadurai DSP Shanmugasundaram
- The then Thiruppuvanam Inspector Rameshkumar
- The then Sub-Inspector Sivakumar
- The then Head Constable Ilayaraja
This case highlights serious concerns about police accountability and custodial violence in India. The closure of the theft case underscores the tragic injustice suffered by Ajith Kumar, whose life was cut short based on unsubstantiated allegations. The legal proceedings continue as the court examines the roles of all accused personnel in the custodial death.
