Chennai / Tirunelveli, August 2 — The brutal murder of 27‑year‑old software engineer Kavin Selva Ganesh in Tirunelveli district has sparked widespread outrage. The case has now been transferred to Tamil Nadu’s Crime Branch–CID after Kavin’s family refused to accept his body for over five days, demanding key arrests before proceeding.
Tragedy in Palayamkottai
On July 27, Kavin, an IT professional from Arumugamangalam (Eral, Tuticorin district), was killed with a sickle near a Siddha clinic in KTC Nagar, Palayamkottai. The accused, S. Surjith—brother of Kavin’s longtime partner Subashini—lured him under the guise of a family discussion before launching the fatal attack. He surrendered to the police shortly thereafter.
Family members assert that the killing was motivated by caste prejudice: Kavin belonged to a Scheduled Caste, while Subashini’s family is from the Maravar sub-caste, listed as a Most Backward Class in Tamil Nadu. They claim that Surjith and his family had long disapproved of their inter-caste relationship, issuing threats against him.
Arrests and Legal Proceedings
Surjith, reportedly aged between 21 and 23, has been charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and detained under the Goondas Act, which permits preventive detention without bail.
In a significant development, Surjith’s parents—Saravanan and Krishnakumari, both serving as Sub-Inspectors in the Tamil Nadu Special Police Force—were booked as co-accused and suspended from duty. Kavin’s family insisted on their arrest before accepting custody of his body.
Family Protest and Body Release
For five days, Kavin’s relatives refused to reclaim his mortal remains from Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital, underscoring their demand for action against the accused and his accomplices. This act drew significant public sympathy and political pressure.
Amid heightened public scrutiny and government intervention—including oversight by ministers K. N. Nehru, Anitha R. Radhakrishnan, MP Kanimozhi, and representatives of the Tamil Nadu SC/ST Commission (which offered ₹6 lakh in compensation)—the family relented and accepted the body. Kavin was transported to Arumugamangalam, where his cremation was conducted with the presence of local officials and loved ones.
Broader Social and Political Fallout
The incident has reignited debate across Tamil Nadu over caste-based violence and honour killings. Social activists and public figures have called for structural reforms, including the declaration of districts with recurrent caste atrocities as “atrocity‑prone areas” and the strengthening of legal frameworks beyond monetary compensation.
Subashini has issued a public statement denying any involvement of her family in the crime, emphasizing that her relationship with Kavin was genuine and kept private from her relatives at the time of the tragedy.
Next Steps: CB‑CID Investigation
The case is now under the active investigation of the Crime Branch–CID, with a mandate for an independent and impartial inquiry. Key witnesses—including Kavin’s mother Tamilselvi, his brother Praveen, and Subashini herself—are expected to be summoned for questioning in the coming days.
Civil society groups, rights advocates, and political stakeholders are closely monitoring the progress of the case, calling for swift and transparent justice and comprehensive legal reforms to combat caste-motivated violence.
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