Nagercoil custodial death: PMK demands CBI probe

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss, on Wednesday (July 15, 2026), demanded a CBI inquiry into the recent death of an inmate inside a Nagercoil Sub Jail. In a statement, he charged that the victim, jailed for possessing gutkha, was “virtually tortured and killed by prison personnel.”

“Allegations have also emerged that, despite knowing the remand prisoner’s death, attempts were made to suppress the incident and pressure was exerted on his family members . If these allegations are true, the conduct of the police and prison authorities is highly condemnable,” he said.

He pointed out a post-mortem conducted in the presence of a judicial magistrate revealed that the victim Sabari Varman’s body bore 19 injuries leading to the arrests of the chief warden of Nagercoil prison and two prison guards.

“The brutality inflicted upon the prisoner is inexcusable. It is alleged he actually died on Sunday (July 12) night as a result of the injuries inflicted during the assault, but prison officials staged a drama by taking him to the hospital on Monday morning and then claiming he died there. These allegations have been made by the family members and relatives,” he said.

In the two months since the change of government in Tamil Nadu, four people have died under mysterious circumstances while in police custody, he charged. An inquiry must be ordered to determine the reasons behind these deaths. The Tamil Nadu government should also provide compensation of ₹50 lakh to the family of the brutally killed Sabari Varman and offer a government job to his wife, he added.