Chennai: The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu government to pay an additional ₹25 lakh as interim compensation to the family of Ajith Kumar, a 28-year-old temple security guard who allegedly died as a result of police torture during interrogation in Sivaganga district.

This compensation is in addition to the ₹7.5 lakh already disbursed by the state.

The directive was issued while the court was hearing a batch of petitions calling for an impartial investigation and accountability in the custodial death case, which has sparked widespread public outrage across Tamil Nadu.

The court further instructed the Principal District Judge of Sivaganga to consider and pass appropriate orders on applications filed by key witnesses seeking protection under the Witness Protection Scheme, amid growing concerns over witness intimidation in cases of custodial violence.

Background

Ajith Kumar had been employed as a security guard at the Madapuram Kaliamman Temple. He was taken into custody by police in connection with a theft complaint lodged by two women, Sivakami and her daughter Nikitha, who alleged that 10 sovereigns of gold jewellery had gone missing from their vehicle.

Shortly after his detention, Ajith's family alleged that he had been subjected to custodial torture, leading to his death. They rejected the police's claim that he died of natural causes, prompting significant media attention and public protest.

In response to the mounting pressure, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case on 12 July against unidentified personnel of the Sivaganga crime branch. Six policemen involved in Ajith’s interrogation were subsequently suspended, and a departmental inquiry was launched.