A physically disabled man arrested in an illegal gutka sale case was found dead while in judicial custody at a prison in Tamil Nadu's Nagercoil, prompting protests by his family and local residents, who alleged that he had been subjected to custodial torture. A post-mortem examination reportedly found 19 injuries on his body, while senior police officials said three prison warders, along with fellow inmates, assaulted him inside the jail.
The incident has triggered political controversy, with the DMK criticising the Vijay-led TVK government and demanding a response from Chief Minister Vijay.
The three jail warders have since been arrested after investigators examined CCTV footage that allegedly confirmed the assault, senior police officials told India Today TV.
The deceased, identified as Sabarivarman, had been arrested for allegedly selling banned gutka and pan masala products. According to officials, this was the third case registered against him for the same offence. He was remanded to judicial custody by a Nagercoil court on July 9.
Sabarivarman was found dead inside the prison in the early hours of Monday.
A senior IPS officer confirmed the death and said investigators were examining CCTV footage to determine the involvement of prison staff or inmates in the incident.
Police also confirmed that Sabarivarman had a mild physical disability.
An eyewitness who saw the body claimed that multiple external injuries were visible. However, officials said the exact cause of death was yet to be established.
DMK demands action and Chief Minister's response
The incident sparked widespread outrage, with DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin expressing shock over the death and demanding action against those responsible if allegations of custodial violence were proven.
He said Sabarivarman was in good health when he was arrested and referred to the family's claims that the victim's body bore multiple injury marks. He also called on Chief Minister Vijay to respond to the allegations.
"The police say that Sabarivarman, who was in good health when he was arrested, died of ill health after being sent to jail. However, Sabarivarman's family alleges that he had injuries all over his body and that he was beaten to death despite being physically disabled. The Chief Minister, who oversees the police, should provide an appropriate response," Udhayanidhi said in a post on X.
He also highlighted that a TVK functionary arrested in a separate gutka-related case was granted bail on the same day, alleging that the police had adopted different standards for ordinary citizens and ruling party members.
"The attitude of the police, where one law applies to an ordinary man like Sabarivarman and another to a TVK functionary, is condemnable," he said.
The incident has once again drawn attention to custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu.
The most prominent case remains the 2020 custodial deaths of father and son P. Jayaraj and J. Bennix in Thoothukudi, which sparked nationwide outrage. Earlier this year, nine police personnel were sentenced to death in connection with that case.
Tamil Nadu has also witnessed several other alleged custodial deaths in recent years, including those of Ajith Kumar in Sivaganga and Marimuthu in Tiruppur in 2025, both of which led to widespread protests and renewed demands for police accountability.
