Chennai: Charge-sheet Filed Against Six Cops in Custodial Death of Dalit Youth
The CB-CID has filed a charge sheet against six police officers regarding the custodial death of 26-year-old Akash Delison in Sivaganga. The development follows a 100-day protest after forensic findings contradicted initial police claims about the victim's injuries.
Highlights
- •CB-CID has filed a charge sheet against six police officers in the custodial death case.
- •The victim, 26-year-old Akash Delison, died following detention in March in Sivaganga district.
- •Initial police claims of a fall were disputed by family and forensic experts finding internal trauma.
- •The case saw over 100 days of protests, ending only after Madras High Court intervention.
The state investigative agency, CB-CID, has officially submitted a formal charge sheet against six police officials linked to the controversial custodial death of a 26-year-old man, Akash Delison, in the Sivaganga district. This significant legal development follows months of public outcry and intense scrutiny surrounding the circumstances of the youth's passing while in police custody earlier this year.
The officers facing charges in this custodial death case include Inspector of Police Dileepan, Sub-Inspector Gugan, and Head Constables Palani (Madhagupatty Police Station) and Deivendran (Sivagangai Town PS). Additionally, Grade 1 Constables Kaleeswaran (Manamadurai PS) and Mahendran (Thiruppuvanam PS) have been included in the legal documentation.
Background and Investigation Details
Akash Delison, a resident of Krishnarajapuram, Manamadurai, was originally detained by authorities on March 5 regarding an active investigation into an attempted murder case. Merely three days later, on March 8, he passed away while receiving care at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai. Official police statements initially alleged that the victim had suffered a severe leg fracture after attempting to flee by jumping from a bridge.
However, the victim's family and relatives vehemently challenged this narrative, alleging that Akash Delison had been subjected to severe physical brutality during interrogation. Reports indicated that a dying declaration, allegedly provided to a judicial magistrate, claimed that the officials repeatedly struck his legs using an iron rod. Subsequent forensic examinations further complicated the official police narrative, as experts identified extensive internal tissue damage that was inconsistent with the injuries expected from a simple fall.
Legal Intervention and Public Impact
The incident led to widespread public anger, resulting in a prolonged protest during which the grieving family refused to accept the body for over 100 days. They maintained a firm stance, demanding that the officers responsible for the custodial death be held accountable. The tense standoff eventually concluded following the intervention of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which facilitated a state-managed cremation conducted under tight security.
As a direct result of the public pressure and the judicial review, the case was transferred to the CB-CID for a thorough, impartial inquiry. The agency proceeded to suspend the implicated police personnel and has now moved forward with filing the formal charge sheet to initiate criminal proceedings. This action serves as a crucial step in the pursuit of accountability within the state's law enforcement framework.
