Madras High Court quashes charge sheet against parents in Kavin murder case

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has quashed the charge sheet against the parents of Surjith, the main accused in the murder of Kavin Selvaganesh in Tamil Nadu. Justice R. Vijayakumar ruled on Tuesday that the case against Saravanan and Krishnakumari, both police sub-inspectors under suspension, lacked sufficient material to proceed.

Kavin, who belonged to a Scheduled Caste, was murdered in Tirunelveli on July 27, 2025. The prosecution alleged that the parents learnt of the killing, met Surjith near a college and instructed him to destroy his clothes and mobile phone and remove a motorcycle number plate. It also alleged that Saravanan gave false information to police.

The judge said there was no eyewitness, CCTV footage, photograph, video, independent witness statement or electronic material showing what occurred during the alleged meeting. The prosecution relied mainly on the fact that the mobile phones attributed to the three people had connected to the same mobile tower. Relying on a Supreme Court judgment, the court said tower data indicated only the operating range of a tower and could not establish a phone’s exact location.

The judge also noted that the prosecution’s own account said Saravanan went to the scene within 16 minutes of receiving information and told police that his son had committed the murder. The court further said the material did not establish the caste-related elements required for charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The relevant telephone conversations had occurred years before the murder.

The court dismissed a petition by Surjith’s cousin Jayapal. Whether Jayapal was involved in a plan or conspiracy must be decided at trial, the judge said. VCK president Thol.

Thirumavalavan urged the Tamil Nadu government to appeal, calling the ruling a wrong precedent.