Madras High Court permits observance of first death anniversary of prime accused Nagendran in BSP leader Armstrong murder case

CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Thursday (October 8, 2026) directed the Greater Chennai City Police to grant permission for the observance of the first death anniversary of P. Nagendran, who was the prime accused in the July 2024 murder of former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader K. Armstrong, on Friday (October 9, 2026).

Justice V. Lakshminarayanan quashed an order passed by the police denying permission for the event since they apprehended disturbance to law and order due to possible retaliatory action. He directed them to grant conditional permission by imposing reasonable restrictions such as limiting the number of participants.

Though Nagendran’s family had initially sought permission for the participation of 300 members in the event planned to be conducted at their residence in Vyasarpadi, they agreed to restrict the number of participants to 60 and submit the list of names to the police by Friday morning.

The judge also made it clear the event should be conducted between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Vysarpadi residence of the family by singing threnodies (oppari), beating drums (parai) and serving food (annadhanam) as per the customs of the community to which they belonged.

He recorded the submission of the counsel for Nagendran’s wife that there shall not be any political sloganeering, erection of banners or playing of provocative songs during the event. The judge took note that Nagendran had died in judicial custody in connection with multiple criminal cases.

“This court is of the view that eventhough the deceased happens to be one of the fakest villains of the 21st century, his family is entitled to follow the customary observances in line with their beliefs. The accused is dead but his family members are alive. The petitioner fears if such observances are not followed, the family will be inviting disastrous consequences from their forefathers. Sometimes, rationality cannot be attached to beliefs,” the judge wrote.

On the apprehension of Additional Public Prosecutor Arun Anbumani that the deceased was the prime accused in the brutal murder of a leading political personality in the State and hence there could be a retaliation, especially since the son of the deceased was also an accused in the murder case, the judge said, the Tamil Nadu police was robust enough to ensure nothing untoward takes place during the three-hour event.

He ordered that the participants must not consume liquor and the police could intervene if there was violation of any of the conditions imposed by the court.