Nagercoil custodial death: Opposition DMK questions TN CM Vijay's silence

The death of a 35-year-old differently abled shopkeeper in judicial custody has triggered fresh scrutiny of custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu, reviving memories of the high-profile Sathankulam case that sparked nationwide outrage in 2020.

S Sabarivarman, a resident of Ethankadu near Nagercoil, was arrested on July 9 for allegedly selling banned gutka and pan masala. Police said around 200 grams of banned tobacco products were seized from his shop. He was remanded to judicial custody and lodged at the Nagercoil sub-jail.

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According to the police investigation, an altercation broke out inside the prison on the night of July 12, during which Sabarivarman was allegedly assaulted by prison personnel. He was also reportedly tied up inside the jail.

Sabarivarman was found unconscious in his prison cell in the early hours of July 13. Prison authorities rushed him to the Kanyakumari Government Medical College Hospital in Asaripallam, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Preliminary autopsy

A preliminary post-mortem examination reportedly found 19 injuries on his body, including a fractured arm and head trauma, raising suspicions of custodial violence.

Following the custodial death, Sabarivarman's family and relatives staged protests, alleging that he had been brutally assaulted by prison authorities before his death and demanding justice.

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A police probe, aided by CCTV footage from inside the prison, allegedly confirmed that prison staff had physically assaulted Sabarivarman during the altercation. Based on the investigation, police arrested three prison personnel, including Chief Warden N. Suresh, in connection with the case.

Debate over custodial violence

The incident has reignited public debate over custodial violence in Tamil Nadu, drawing comparisons with the Sathankulam custodial deaths of trader P Jayaraj and his son J Beniks in 2020. The father and son died after allegedly being subjected to brutal torture in police custody, triggering nationwide protests and widespread demands for police reforms.

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In a landmark judgment delivered on April 6, 2026, the Madurai First Additional District and Sessions Court sentenced all nine convicted police personnel in the Sathankulam case to death. Describing the crime as falling under the "rarest of rare" category, judge G Muthukumaran's verdict marked an unprecedented instance of an entire group of law enforcement officers receiving capital punishment for custodial torture and murder.

Opposition questions CM’s silence

The latest custodial death has also sparked a political confrontation in the state. Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, in a post on X (Formerly Twitter), said the person in charge of the police department "must explain the circumstances surrounding the custodial death". Noting that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay also holds the Home portfolio, Udhayanidhi demanded accountability and said the government must ensure justice for Sabarivarman by taking stringent action against the officials responsible.

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DMK spokesperson Hafeezullah also attacked the government, saying that when Vijay was in the Opposition, he had forcefully raised the issue of custodial deaths. "Now, under his government, alleged police atrocities have resulted in a death inside a prison," he said, accusing the administration of failing to uphold the standards it had once demanded.

Udhayanidhi also called for stringent action against the officials responsible and urged the government to ensure justice for Sabarivarman's family.