Inspector, two police personnel suspended in Ajith Kumar custodial death case

Three police personnel, including an Inspector, who were imprisoned in connection with the Madappuram temple watchman Ajith Kumar custodial death case, have been suspended.

Ajith Kumar (27) worked as a watchman at the Madappuram Badrakaliamman Temple in Sivaganga district.

On June 27, 2025, a person named Nikitha, who had visited the Madappuram temple, lodged a complaint of jewellery theft against Ajith Kumar. Based on the complaint, special force police personnel allegedly assaulted Ajith Kumar at the cattle shed behind the temple, reportedly resulting in his death.

The case was investigated by the CBI. Murder cases were subsequently registered against six special force police personnel — Raja, Anand, Sankaramanikandan, Prabhu, Kannan and Ramachandran — and all of them were imprisoned.

Subsequently, in an additional chargesheet filed by the CBI, the then Manamadurai DSP Shanmugasundaram, Thirupuvanam Inspector Ramesh Kumar, Sub-Inspector Sivakumar and Head Constable Ilaiyaraja were added as accused.