Caste killing: investigation will be completed in 60 days, Tamil Nadu government informs High Court

The Hindu

a day ago

The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday informed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that the investigation in the caste killing of Kavin Selvaganesh would be completed in two months.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by S.M.A. Pon Gandhimathinathan of Thoothukudi district, who had sought a direction for a CB-CID probe, to be monitored by a Tirunelveli District Judge.
More relief sought
The petitioner had also sought a direction to the government to provide an adequate compensation of ₹50 lakh under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules to the family of the deceased and to bring in a separate Act to prevent 'honour' killings.
He said the accused, Surjith, the brother of the girl Kavin loved, and his father Saravanan, a sub-inspector, had been arrested, while Surjith's mother, Krishnakumari, also a sub-inspector, had not been arrested yet. (The accused belongs to the Most Backward Caste).
According to the petitioner, Chandrasekar, father of Kavin, had alleged that inspector of police Kasipandian had earlier threatened Kavin with dire consequences and acted in a biased manner in favour of the family of the accused.
Given the fact that the parents of the accused are sub-inspectors and given the role of Kasipandian, a District Judge should monitor the investigation, the petitioner said.
Additional Advocate-General M. Ajmal Khan submitted that the investigation would be completed by the CB-CID in 60 days and the final report would be filed. An interim compensation of ₹6 lakh had been handed over to the family. A case was booked under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. No offender would be allowed to go scot free, it was submitted.
A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete said the CB-CID had started the investigation and the petitioner had not raised any serious allegation against the investigating team. Giving a direction at this point of time would affect the independence of the investigating officers, the Bench said, posting the matter for further hearing after eight weeks.
Panel reviews action
In Tirunelveli, the Chairperson and Members of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes met Tirunelveli Collector R. Sukumar and top police officers on Tuesday to review the action being taken following the murder of Kavin Selvaganesh. He was killed on July 27.
The eight-member Commission, led by its Chairperson Kishor Makwana, met the Collector, top police officers, and the heads of various departments. Dr. Sukumar explained the circumstances that led to the murder and the action taken by the police. The police also presented a report based on their investigation.
Inspector-General of Police, Social Justice and Human Rights, B. Shamoondeswari; Tirunelveli City Police Commissioner Santosh Hadimani; Deputy Commissioners of Police Vinodh Shantharam and Prasanna Kumar; District Revenue Officer M. Suganya; and other officials took part at the meeting.
The Commission members had planned to visit the spot where Kavin was murdered. But the plan was dropped. After the meeting, they went to Arumugamangalam to meet the family of the deceased.