Why 3 Tamil Nadu jail officers had been held over remand prisoner’s loss of life
3 min learnChennaiUp to date: Jul 15, 2026 10:48 AM IST
The loss of life of a 35-year-old remand prisoner contained in the Nagercoil sub-jail in Tamil Nadu’s Kanniyakumari district led to the arrest of three jail officers on Tuesday, turning what was initially described as a potential ‘medical emergency’ right into a custodial loss of life investigation.
The police arrested chief warder Jegan, 47, and warders Sivakumar and Thiruvudai Nambi on Tuesday after a autopsy on Sabari Varman, a in another way abled grocery store proprietor arrested on July 9, allegedly revealed a number of accidents.
Varman, who was from Ethankadu close to South Thamaraikulam, was arrested after the police alleged that he was present in possession of banned gutka merchandise. The police mentioned round 200 grams of the prohibited tobacco merchandise, or 15 packets, had been reportedly seized from his store. He was produced earlier than a Justice of the Peace, remanded to judicial custody, and lodged within the Nagercoil sub-jail.
Jail authorities mentioned Varman developed a sudden well being downside early on Monday morning and was rushed to the Kanniyakumari Authorities Medical School Hospital at Asaripallam, the place medical doctors declared him lifeless on arrival.
Household protests, seeks probe
His loss of life instantly triggered protests by members of the family exterior the hospital, with family members alleging that he had been assaulted whereas in custody. They refused to obtain his physique, claiming they observed accidents on it and demanding an neutral investigation.
One relative instructed reporters that jail officers had casually knowledgeable the household of his loss of life, alleging that they had been “smiling” whereas conveying the information. The household additionally rejected the preliminary suggestion that he had died of a coronary heart assault, insisting he had no recognized pre-existing sickness.
Initially, senior police officers maintained that no exterior accidents had been recorded through the medical examination earlier than Varman was remanded and that the judicial Justice of the Peace had additionally not famous any accidents. The police additional mentioned his sister had visited him in jail and later said in her grievance that he had gave the impression to be doing properly.
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Kanniyakumari SP assures motion
Kanniyakumari Superintendent of Police R Stalin met the protesting household and warranted them that applicable motion could be taken primarily based on the autopsy findings and the end result of the investigation. Judicial Justice of the Peace Sathyamurthy performed a judicial inquiry.
In line with a senior police officer, investigators imagine Varman, described as an alcoholic who allegedly behaved “abnormally” contained in the jail and provoked different inmates, was assaulted by one of many warders whilst jail employees tried to restrain him. The opposite two officers had been arrested on allegations of concealing proof.
The police additionally mentioned they’d recognized 5 inmates who allegedly assisted within the assault and that additional motion would comply with after an investigation.
