A 35-year-old repeat offender who was lodged in Nagercoil sub-jail in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari district died on Monday, sparking protests by his family, who alleged that he was tortured in police custody.
According to police, S Sapari Varman, who was physically disabled, was arrested on July 9 for allegedly possessing around 200 grams of gutka at his shop in South Thammaraikulam, Nagercoil. He has been lodged in Nagercoil sub-prison since then.
Sabari Varman complained of health problems in jail on Monday and was shifted to Government Medical College Hospital in Kanyakumari, where doctors declared him brought dead, police said.
On Tuesday, his relatives staged a protest, claiming that he died due to torture in detention, and demanded an impartial investigation. Senior police officials later calmed them down, sources said.
A police official denied the allegations of torture in detention and said investigators had presented evidence showing that Sabari Farman was in good health when he left the police station and when he was admitted to the sub-prison.
“We have provided necessary evidence and investigation is underway. The fitness certificate given by the doctors did not mention anything about external injuries. He was in good condition and did not have any other problems when he was taken from the police station to the jail,” the official told HT, on condition of anonymity.
The official said that Sabari Farman’s relatives also met him in prison and did not file any complaint at that time.
“There was adequate awareness among police personnel after similar incidents including the incident in Sathankulam. We are absolutely sure that there are no such cases (like custodial deaths),” he said.
Another senior police official said an investigation into the alleged custodial death was underway and three prison guards had been arrested.
“The case is still under investigation. He was fine when he was at the police station and in jail as well. We have arrested three prison guards in this regard. At the moment, I cannot say anything more than this. The investigation is ongoing,” he told HT.
The case has drawn comparisons with the June 2020 death of father and son P Jayaraj and G Penix in custody in Sathankulam, Thoothukudi district, after they were allegedly assaulted by police for violating Covid-19 restrictions. In April 2026, nine policemen were sentenced to death in the case.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenethran has demanded a thorough investigation into the incident.
“Sabarivarman, who was arrested in the Gokha case on July 9 and lodged in Nagercoil jail, died of a heart attack while in jail. However, his relatives are protesting, alleging that Sabarivarman was beaten to death in custody.”
“Chief Minister Joseph Vijay’s government should conduct a proper investigation into this incident which is causing severe shock and raising various suspicions,” he said in a social media post on Tuesday.
He urged the Prime Minister to ascertain the real cause of death without any concessions and to ensure the health and safety of prisoners detained in prisons.
