Madras High Court. File
| Photo Credit: K. Pichumani
The Madras High Court has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder of former Yuva Morcha (youth wing) leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Puducherry unit, K. Uma Shankar. He was brutally hacked to death near Paris Mahal in Lawspet, Puducherry, on April 26, 2025.
Justice P. Velmurugan directed the Senior Superintendent of Police, Puducherry, to hand over the investigation to the Deputy Director of the CBI forthwith. The judge mandated that the CBI conduct a free and fair investigation into the murder and file a final report within six months.
The orders were passed on a petition filed by Ezhumalai alias V.C. Kasilingam, the father of the deceased on whose complaint the local police had registered a First Information Report (FIR). The petitioner said he had lost faith in the police and alleged they were attempting to shield the real offenders.
His counsel R. Sankarasubbu told the court the murder had taken place due to a land-grabbing dispute in Kuil Thoppu, involving two Members of the Legislative Assembly. Though the names of the suspects were well known, the police had filed the FIR without naming them in the report, he said.
The counsel accused the local police of attempting to let the real suspects escape from prosecution due to political pressure. On the other hand, Puducherry Public Prosecutor K.S. Mohandass denied the allegations and said, the investigation was almost complete and a final report would be filed soon.
After hearing both sides, the judge wrote: “Considering the facts and circumstances and taking note of the submissions, this court is of view that since the prime accused, who are involved in the alleged crime, have not been named as accused in the FIR, if the second respondent police is allowed to continue the investigation, the real culprits will escape from the clutches of law.”
Therefore, he directed the local police to hand over the investigaiton to the CBI forthwith.
Published – July 28, 2025 01:29 pm IST
