NEW DELHI: Naveen Kumar, the younger brother of Ajith Kumar—who died in alleged police custody in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district—was admitted to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai for medical examination on Sunday. Naveen complained of pain, swelling, and discomfort in his feet, claiming he too was beaten by the police during questioning.Ajith, a 27-year-old security guard at a village temple, was picked up after a woman visitor accused him of stealing ornaments from her car. The postmortem report confirmed multiple external injuries and internal bleeding in Ajith’s brain, heart, and stomach. Though it stopped short of stating the cause of death, it did suggest torture. The autopsy was delayed by more than 18 hours raising further questions about the handling of the case. Ajith’s mother, B Malathi, who met him hours before his death, said he was shirtless and trembling. “I asked him to admit it if he had taken the jewellery. He said in a low voice, ‘I didn’t take them.’ That was the last thing he told me.” The Tamil Nadu government has provided the family with Rs 5 lakh compensation, a house site patta, and a government job. Naveen, who has completed his ITI, has been appointed as a technician at AAVIN, the state milk cooperative. Following massive outrage by opoposition, Chief Minister MK Stalin has ordered a CBI probe. Actor-politician Vijay also met the grieving family, expressing support. Five policemen have been arrested in the case.
