8 months ago
3
The Madras High Court, connected Wednesday (September 24, 2025), ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) State president K. Armstrong who was hacked by an equipped pack successful Chennai connected July 5, 2024.
Justice P. Velmurugan passed the orders portion allowing a petition filed by K. Immanuvel, the member of the deceased, for transferring the probe from Greater Chennai City Police to the CBI since the metropolis constabulary had not investigated the lawsuit properly.
During the people of proceeding of the plea successful July this year, the justice had questioned the metropolis constabulary for not having complied with adjacent the basal request of conducting an recognition parade successful the execution case despite determination being galore eye-witnesses to the crime.
‘Acquittal is owed to probe flaws’
He had said that astir of the transgression cases extremity up successful acquittal lone due to the fact that of the flaws successful the probe and the contiguous lawsuit earlier him was a classical example. He said, availability of CCTV footage of the transgression could not beryllium cited arsenic crushed to dispense with the recognition parade.
When Additional Advocate General (AAG) P. Kumaresan replied that the media had wide published pictures of the accused and hence an recognition parade mightiness not person been of overmuch use, the justice asked, “Was the media the eye-witness to the crime? Media whitethorn people immoderate representation for TRP (Television Rating Points).”
On the time of murder
According to the prosecution, Armstrong was hacked to decease by an eight-member equipped pack successful the beingness of his member K. Veeramani, operator Abdul Kani, existent property broker Balaji and gathering operation workers Mohanraj and Suresh astatine Perambur.
Mr. Veeramani excessively had suffered stab injuries, connected his caput and back, erstwhile helium tried to support his member and it was connected his complaint, the constabulary had registered the First Information Report. The injured complainant had categorically told the constabulary that helium would beryllium capable to place the assailants.
Yet, the constabulary had miserably failed to behaviour an recognition parade, the justice lamented. Though the defence counsel would person attacked the results of the parade by citing work of photographs of the accused successful the media, that should not person prevented the constabulary from complying with the ineligible requirement, helium said.
The observations were made earlier the justice reserved his orders connected July 28, 2025 connected the petition seeking a CBI probe to cull retired the truth.
Though the constabulary had completed the probe successful the lawsuit and laid a complaint sheet excessively against 30 individuals, the petitioner relied upon a Supreme Court verdict to contend that the High Court could inactive transportation the probe to the CBI if it was not satisfied with the probe by the section police.
What bash the constabulary say?
In a antagonistic affidavit to the transportation plea, the constabulary had told the tribunal a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a Joint Commissioner of Police and comprising 1 Deputy Commissioner, 2 Assistant Commissioners, 16 Inspectors, 19 Sub Inspectors and 44 constables was formed to lick the Armstrong execution case.
The probe was conducted from each angles and it revealed that the motive for the execution was pack rivalry and erstwhile enmity owed to the 2023 execution of ‘Arcot’ Suresh. Hence, the constabulary filed a 7,087-page complaint expanse against 30 individuals who included the wife, brother, brother-in-law, different relatives and associates of Suresh.
The Hindu Illustration
The premier accused was convict Nagendran who was undergoing incarceration astatine Vellore Central Prison successful different execution case. Further, the 2nd accused ‘Shambhava’ Senthil alias Senthilkumaran and eighteenth accused ‘Mottai’ Krishnan alias Krishnakumar, some advocates by profession, were declared absconding.
On learning that the 2nd accused could person escaped either to France oregon the United Kingdom, the constabulary had taken steps to extradite him by issuing Red Corner Notices. They besides divided the lawsuit against the 2 absconding accused and informed the proceedings tribunal that seventh accused Thiruvengadam had died during investigation.
Stating steps were taken to behaviour proceedings against the remainder of the 27 accused who were inactive nether judicial custody and had not been granted bail truthful far, the constabulary said, the probe was conducted successful a nonrecreational mode and that the accused had besides been detained nether the Goondas Act.
The tribunal was further told 5 country-made bombs, 1 state made pistol, 4 9 mm bullets, 13 knives, 1 axe, 8 two-wheelers, 4 four-wheelers, 27 mobile phones, a Zomato formal and a container and currency amounting to ₹63.13 lakh were seized from the arrested accused.
