The charge-sheet filed by the CB-CID, which is investigating the mysterious custodial death of petty shop owner Sabari Varman in Nagercoil Sub-Jail, said the brutal attack unleashed in the jail by prison inmates and jail warders was the reason for the death.
The CB-CID’s 1,200-page charge-sheet filed on Monday before the court cited 11 persons, including three prison warders and eight prisoners, as accused.
The charge-sheet said Sabari Varman was beaten to death by the prisoners after his hands and legs were tied with his ‘lungi’. Since he was lying on the floor for long with his hands and legs tied after the attack he died, the investigating agency said.
S. Sabari Varman, 34, of Eethankadu, who ran a petty shop adjacent to his residence, was arrested by Thenthamaraikulam police on July 9 for allegedly selling banned tobacco products. He was remanded in judicial custody in Nagercoil Sub-Jail as an under-trial prisoner after mandatory medical examination.
As Sabari Varman died under suspicious circumstances on July 13 morning, the body was sent to Kanniyakumari Government Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem, which reportedly found 19 injuries on his body.
The suspicious death of the remand prisoner triggered a hue and cry in the political circles with the Opposition parties, including the AIADMK and the DMK, criticising the TVK government for it. The relatives of the deceased refused to accept the body.
After the then Superintendent of Police R. Stalin held talks with them, and assured them of a fair probe, the relatives received the body.
As the case was transferred to the CB-CID, the investigating agency found that Sabari Varman, who was shouting continuously after being lodged in the cell demanding a meeting with his wife and children, was assaulted by a warder.
The warder also allegedly encouraged eight prisoners to assault Sabari Varman after tying his hands and legs with a lungi. The brutal attack continued, and Sabari Varman lay on the floor for several hours with his hands and legs tied, and ultimately he died.
On July 14, the Nesamony Nagar Police arrested Grade I warder Jegan, warders Suresh and Sivakumar, and prisoners Vishnu, Sarathi, Jagan, Sarath, Perumal, Sethuram, Ajith and Aravind.
The case was subsequently transferred to the CB-CID, which has now filed the charge-sheet, signalling the commencement of the trial of the case soon.
Published - October 14, 2026 08:22 pm IST