Sivaganga custodial killing: Theft case against Ajith Kumar closed, CBI tells Madurai Bench of Madras High Court

In a major twist in the Sivaganga illegal custodial killing case of temple security guard B. Ajith Kumar, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday (February 4, 2026) that the alleged theft of jewelry, on the basis of which the victim was detained, has been closed.

Justice S. Srimathy, during the course of the hearing in the bail petitions filed by the accused police personnel, asked the CBI the status of the alleged theft of jewellery case and whether the allegations were true. The CBI submitted the case had been closed. “So there was nothing?,” the Judge asked. The CBI said “no”.

Expressing anguish, the Judge said, “So there was nothing. A person was beaten to death in a case where there was nothing.” The Judge asked the CBI whether action would be initiated against the complainant, Nikitha, who was the root cause of the incident. The CBI responded that they would file a report before the court in this regard.

With regard to the 10 police personnel who have been named accused in the custodial death case, the CBI said the investigating agency had filed a charge sheet and a supplementary charge sheet in the case before the Fifth Additional District and Sessions Court in Madurai, the trial court. It was a case of police excess, it was submitted. The court adjourned the hearing in the bail petitions.

The CBI closed the alleged theft of jewellery case as there was no evidence and no materials.

B. Ajith Kumar was a temporary security employee at the Badrakali Amman Temple in Madapuram in Sivaganga district.

On June 27, 2025, Nikitha from Thirumangalam in the Madurai district and her mother visited the temple. Nikitha reportedly handed their car key to Ajith Kumar, asking him to park the vehicle, as she needed to help her mother, who had difficulty in walking. It is alleged that when they returned, they found their bag in the car open and the gold ornaments inside it missing. Ajith Kumar was taken in for interrogation. On June 28, 2025, he died during the interrogation.

The State Government transferred the probe into both the cases to the CBI. Five police personnel — Prabhu, Kannan, Sankara Manikandan, Raja, and Anand were arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Subsequently, Ramachandran (police driver), was named as an accused in the case and remanded in judicial custody.

Later, the then Manamadurai Deputy Superintendent of Police, N. Shanmugasundaram, the then Thirupuvanam Inspector of Police, P. Ramesh Kumar, the then Sub-Inspector of Police, Siva Kumar, and the then Head Constable, Ilayaraja, were additionally named as accused in the case.