CHENNAI — The Tamil Nadu police department faces intense scrutiny following the custodial death of R. Akash Delison, a 26-year-old Dalit man from Sivaganga district. In a significant development, six police personnel have been suspended after the victim’s dying declaration and subsequent autopsy reports directly contradicted the official police narrative.
The case has now been handed over to the Crime Branch-CID (CB-CID) for a high-level investigation into allegations of targeted violence and procedural lapses.
Contradictory Narratives: Accident vs. Assault
Delison was apprehended on March 6 in connection with an assault case. He died two days later, on March 8, while undergoing treatment at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai.
- The Police Version: Authorities initially claimed that Delison sustained fatal injuries after jumping from a bridge in a desperate attempt to evade custody.
- The Dying Declaration: In a statement recorded by Judicial Magistrate Afzal Fathima, Delison detailed a harrowing account of torture. He alleged that officers blindfolded him, placed his leg between two stones, covered it with a wet sack—a tactic reportedly used to minimize external bruising—and shattered his bone using an iron rod.
Forensic Findings Challenge Official Claims
The autopsy report has further weakened the department's stance. While the state initially attributed the death to a "fat embolism" resulting from a fall, medical examiners recorded over two dozen injuries across Delison’s body.
A senior police official noted that the nature of the fractures in the tibia and fibula, combined with extensive internal contusions and nerve damage, is inconsistent with a fall from a height. Furthermore, the report highlighted potential violations of mandatory National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) protocols regarding custodial deaths.
Administrative and Legal Repercussions
Following a petition moved by Delison's father, A. Rajeshkannan, in the Madras High Court, the state has been forced to take corrective action:
- Suspensions: Six personnel, including Inspector Dileepan and Sub-Inspector Gugan, have been placed under suspension by the DIG of Ramanathapuram Range.
- Criminal Charges: The government has now incorporated charges of murder and violations of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act into the investigation.
- Compensation: The state has provided ₹6 lakh in compensation to the bereaved family.
Political Fallout
The incident has triggered a political firestorm in Tamil Nadu. Thol Thirumavalavan, President of the VCK, suggested the assault might be linked to Delison’s local activism against drug trafficking. Meanwhile, Sivaganga MP Karthi Chidambaram has called for systemic police reforms, noting that custodial violence remains a recurring stain on the state's administrative record regardless of the party in power.
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