Custodial death sparks outrage in Tamil Nadu as dying declaration alleges ‘torture’

The custodial death of a 26-year-old Dalit man in Tamil Nadu has triggered political outrage and legal scrutiny after his dying declaration alleged brutal police torture and an autopsy report pointed to multiple injuries inconsistent with the police version of events. Six police personnel have been suspended and the probe has been handed over to the Crime Branch–CID.

R Akash Delison, a resident of Krishnarajapuram in Manamadurai in Sivaganga district, was arrested on March 6 in connection with an assault case. Police later claimed he suffered fatal injuries after jumping off a bridge while attempting to escape custody. He died on March 8 while undergoing treatment at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai.

However, Delison’s family and political leaders have disputed the police account, citing his dying declaration and the findings of the postmortem report.

Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Ramanathapuram Range, N Manivannan, ordered the suspension of six personnel: Thiruppuvanam Police Station Inspector Dileepan; Manamadurai Sub-Inspector Gugan; Sivaganga Town Police Station Head Constable Deivendran; SIPCOT Police Station Head Constable Sarathkumar; Manamadurai Grade-I Constable Kalishwaran; and Thiruppuvanam Grade-I Constable Manoharan.

Dying declaration alleges torture

In a dying declaration recorded at the hospital a day before his death in the presence of Judicial Magistrate Afzal Fathima, Delison described what he said was a violent assault inside police custody.

“They tied my eyes with a white cloth… They placed two stones, one under my ankle and another under my knee. They placed a wet sack over my leg. Then they struck my right leg once with great force using an iron rod,” he stated in the declaration, which is part of a writ petition filed before the court.

According to the statement, the blow shattered his leg bone, causing severe bleeding. Activists have long alleged that such methods are used to inflict injuries while minimizing visible external wounds.

Family moves High Court

Delison’s father, A Rajeshkannan, has accused the police of deliberately crushing his son’s leg during custody, leading to fatal injuries. On March 11, he approached the Madras High Court seeking the registration of murder charges against the police personnel involved and invoking provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The case sparked protests by family members and supporters, who blocked a highway demanding justice.

During hearings before the Madurai Bench of the High Court, the Tamil Nadu government denied allegations of custodial torture. Additional Advocate General M Ajmal Khan told the court that Delison sustained injuries while trying to escape custody and was subsequently taken to Manamadurai Government Hospital, then shifted to Sivaganga Government Medical College Hospital, and later to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai after he developed breathing complications.

The state also informed the court that murder charges and provisions under the SC/ST Act had been added in the case and that compensation of ₹6 lakh had been provided to the family.

Autopsy raises fresh questions

The court directed that the postmortem be conducted in the presence of a judicial magistrate as per established guidelines.

Sources familiar with the autopsy report said it revealed significant inconsistencies with the police’s initial medico-legal report. While the cause of death was recorded as fat embolism, the postmortem reportedly noted only clotted blood in the heart chambers without identifying fat globules.

The report also documented more than two dozen injuries across Delison’s body.

“The postmortem report showed multiple injuries including severe fractures of the tibia and fibula in the right leg, extensive muscle and nerve damage, wounds on the elbows and knees, and several abrasions,” a senior police officer said. A large internal contusion was also found in the injured leg.

Investigators indicated that such injuries were unlikely to result from a fall from a bridge, which typically causes fragmented fractures and external abrasions.

The report has also raised concerns that mandatory procedures laid down by the National Human Rights Commission for custodial death cases may not have been fully followed.

Political leaders demand accountability

The case has drawn sharp reactions from political leaders across parties.

VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan alleged that Delison died due to “brutal police assault” and the absence of timely medical treatment. He also claimed that the 26-year-old had opposed drug peddling and the sale of spurious liquor in his locality, and urged investigators to examine that angle.

Sivaganga Congress MP Karthi Chidambaram called for broader police reforms, saying custodial deaths have remained a recurring issue in Tamil Nadu across successive governments.

With the Crime Branch-CID now probing the case and the High Court monitoring developments, the incident has reignited debate over custodial violence and accountability within the police force in the state.