Tamil Nadu man dies after arrest over liquor sale; family alleges custodial torture
Arunachalam's family rejected the police's claim that he sustained a head injury after falling on his own, alleging instead that he was beaten by four police personnel while in custody.
A 24-year-old man in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi, who was arrested for possessing a large quantity of liquor, died in hospital after collapsing at a police station while in custody. His family alleged that he was subjected to custodial torture and sustained severe injuries in police custody before being hospitalised, where he later succumbed.
The police, however, denied the allegations, claiming the man collapsed on his own inside the lock-up while speaking to other inmates and that the incident was captured on CCTV cameras. Officials said he was released on station bail after appearing stable and was sent with his family for a precautionary medical examination. According to the police, he collapsed again near the hospital and later died during treatment.
The victim, Arunachalam, was picked up by the Thoothukudi police after he was allegedly found in possession of 120 bottles of liquor (180 ml each) during a prohibition enforcement drive.
According to his family, he was assaulted by four police personnel while in custody and was later admitted to hospital. They said the police informed them that he had suffered a serious head injury and required surgery. The family has refused to accept Arunachalam's body, demanding a transparent investigation into his death. Alleging that he died due to police brutality, they described the incident as a case of custodial death.
POLICE COUNTERS FAMILY
According to the police, Arunachalam was taken to the Government Medical College Hospital in Thoothukudi for a medical examination after his arrest, where doctors declared him fit for custody and recorded no external injuries. He was then brought back to the police station and lodged in the lock-up along with other accused persons.
The police said Arunachalam suddenly collapsed while speaking with other inmates inside the lock-up. They claimed the incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed at the station. Police personnel immediately attended to him, gave him water and informed his mother, who was present at the police station.
According to the police, Arunachalam recovered after the episode and was released on station bail. Officials said he was sent with his relatives for a precautionary medical examination, a sequence of events they claimed was also recorded on CCTV footage.
The police further said Arunachalam collapsed again near the hospital later that day and was admitted for treatment. He subsequently underwent surgery but died on July 23 despite medical intervention. Officials said a case has been registered based on a complaint filed by his father and that an investigation is underway.
His family has rejected the police version, insisting he was assaulted in custody. They have demanded the release of the CCTV footage from the police station, alleging that the authorities are withholding crucial evidence.
The incident triggered sharp political reactions, with the DMK targeting the Vijay-led government over the alleged custodial death and seeking an explanation from Chief Minister Vijay.
DMK MP Kanimozhi, in a post on X, said the death of a young man following alleged police torture in Thoothukudi, coming soon after a similar incident in Nagercoil, was "heartbreaking". Taking a swipe at the state government, she questioned whether there was "even such a thing as a government" in Tamil Nadu, alleging that Chief Minister Vijay, several ministers and officials were away watching a film on its release day. She said it remained to be seen whether the government would respond to the custodial death after returning to work.
ANOTHER DEATH WEEKS AGO
The incident comes weeks after the custodial death of a physically disabled man, Sabarivarman, who was arrested in connection with an illegal gutka sale case and later died in judicial custody in Nagercoil.
The post-mortem examination of Sabarivarman revealed 19 injuries on his body. Senior police officials said three jail warders, along with inmates, assaulted him inside the prison. The warders were arrested after CCTV footage allegedly confirmed the assault.
Sabarivarman had been arrested for allegedly selling banned gutka and pan masala products. According to officials, it was the third case registered against him for the same offence. He was remanded to judicial custody on July 9 by a Nagercoil court. An eyewitness who saw his body claimed multiple external injuries were visible, though officials are yet to determine the exact cause of death.
The latest death has once again brought custodial violence in Tamil Nadu under scrutiny. The state's most high-profile custodial death case remains that of the father-son duo, P Jayaraj and J Bennix, in Thoothukudi in 2020, which sparked nationwide outrage. In April this year, nine policemen were awarded the death penalty in the case.
Tamil Nadu has also witnessed several other alleged custodial deaths in recent years, including those of Ajith Kumar in Sivaganga and Marimuthu in Tiruppur in 2025, both of which triggered widespread public outrage and renewed calls for police accountability.
A 24-year-old man in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi, who was arrested for possessing a large quantity of liquor, died in hospital after collapsing at a police station while in custody. His family alleged that he was subjected to custodial torture and sustained severe injuries in police custody before being hospitalised, where he later succumbed.
The police, however, denied the allegations, claiming the man collapsed on his own inside the lock-up while speaking to other inmates and that the incident was captured on CCTV cameras. Officials said he was released on station bail after appearing stable and was sent with his family for a precautionary medical examination. According to the police, he collapsed again near the hospital and later died during treatment.
The victim, Arunachalam, was picked up by the Thoothukudi police after he was allegedly found in possession of 120 bottles of liquor (180 ml each) during a prohibition enforcement drive.
According to his family, he was assaulted by four police personnel while in custody and was later admitted to hospital. They said the police informed them that he had suffered a serious head injury and required surgery. The family has refused to accept Arunachalam's body, demanding a transparent investigation into his death. Alleging that he died due to police brutality, they described the incident as a case of custodial death.
POLICE COUNTERS FAMILY
According to the police, Arunachalam was taken to the Government Medical College Hospital in Thoothukudi for a medical examination after his arrest, where doctors declared him fit for custody and recorded no external injuries. He was then brought back to the police station and lodged in the lock-up along with other accused persons.
The police said Arunachalam suddenly collapsed while speaking with other inmates inside the lock-up. They claimed the incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed at the station. Police personnel immediately attended to him, gave him water and informed his mother, who was present at the police station.
According to the police, Arunachalam recovered after the episode and was released on station bail. Officials said he was sent with his relatives for a precautionary medical examination, a sequence of events they claimed was also recorded on CCTV footage.
The police further said Arunachalam collapsed again near the hospital later that day and was admitted for treatment. He subsequently underwent surgery but died on July 23 despite medical intervention. Officials said a case has been registered based on a complaint filed by his father and that an investigation is underway.
His family has rejected the police version, insisting he was assaulted in custody. They have demanded the release of the CCTV footage from the police station, alleging that the authorities are withholding crucial evidence.
The incident triggered sharp political reactions, with the DMK targeting the Vijay-led government over the alleged custodial death and seeking an explanation from Chief Minister Vijay.
DMK MP Kanimozhi, in a post on X, said the death of a young man following alleged police torture in Thoothukudi, coming soon after a similar incident in Nagercoil, was "heartbreaking". Taking a swipe at the state government, she questioned whether there was "even such a thing as a government" in Tamil Nadu, alleging that Chief Minister Vijay, several ministers and officials were away watching a film on its release day. She said it remained to be seen whether the government would respond to the custodial death after returning to work.
ANOTHER DEATH WEEKS AGO
The incident comes weeks after the custodial death of a physically disabled man, Sabarivarman, who was arrested in connection with an illegal gutka sale case and later died in judicial custody in Nagercoil.
The post-mortem examination of Sabarivarman revealed 19 injuries on his body. Senior police officials said three jail warders, along with inmates, assaulted him inside the prison. The warders were arrested after CCTV footage allegedly confirmed the assault.
Sabarivarman had been arrested for allegedly selling banned gutka and pan masala products. According to officials, it was the third case registered against him for the same offence. He was remanded to judicial custody on July 9 by a Nagercoil court. An eyewitness who saw his body claimed multiple external injuries were visible, though officials are yet to determine the exact cause of death.
The latest death has once again brought custodial violence in Tamil Nadu under scrutiny. The state's most high-profile custodial death case remains that of the father-son duo, P Jayaraj and J Bennix, in Thoothukudi in 2020, which sparked nationwide outrage. In April this year, nine policemen were awarded the death penalty in the case.
Tamil Nadu has also witnessed several other alleged custodial deaths in recent years, including those of Ajith Kumar in Sivaganga and Marimuthu in Tiruppur in 2025, both of which triggered widespread public outrage and renewed calls for police accountability.
A 24-year-old man in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi, who was arrested for possessing a large quantity of liquor, died in hospital after collapsing at a police station while in custody. His family alleged that he was subjected to custodial torture and sustained severe injuries in police custody before being hospitalised, where he later succumbed.
The police, however, denied the allegations, claiming the man collapsed on his own inside the lock-up while speaking to other inmates and that the incident was captured on CCTV cameras. Officials said he was released on station bail after appearing stable and was sent with his family for a precautionary medical examination. According to the police, he collapsed again near the hospital and later died during treatment.
The victim, Arunachalam, was picked up by the Thoothukudi police after he was allegedly found in possession of 120 bottles of liquor (180 ml each) during a prohibition enforcement drive.
According to his family, he was assaulted by four police personnel while in custody and was later admitted to hospital. They said the police informed them that he had suffered a serious head injury and required surgery. The family has refused to accept Arunachalam's body, demanding a transparent investigation into his death. Alleging that he died due to police brutality, they described the incident as a case of custodial death.
POLICE COUNTERS FAMILY
According to the police, Arunachalam was taken to the Government Medical College Hospital in Thoothukudi for a medical examination after his arrest, where doctors declared him fit for custody and recorded no external injuries. He was then brought back to the police station and lodged in the lock-up along with other accused persons.
The police said Arunachalam suddenly collapsed while speaking with other inmates inside the lock-up. They claimed the incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed at the station. Police personnel immediately attended to him, gave him water and informed his mother, who was present at the police station.
According to the police, Arunachalam recovered after the episode and was released on station bail. Officials said he was sent with his relatives for a precautionary medical examination, a sequence of events they claimed was also recorded on CCTV footage.
The police further said Arunachalam collapsed again near the hospital later that day and was admitted for treatment. He subsequently underwent surgery but died on July 23 despite medical intervention. Officials said a case has been registered based on a complaint filed by his father and that an investigation is underway.
His family has rejected the police version, insisting he was assaulted in custody. They have demanded the release of the CCTV footage from the police station, alleging that the authorities are withholding crucial evidence.
The incident triggered sharp political reactions, with the DMK targeting the Vijay-led government over the alleged custodial death and seeking an explanation from Chief Minister Vijay.
DMK MP Kanimozhi, in a post on X, said the death of a young man following alleged police torture in Thoothukudi, coming soon after a similar incident in Nagercoil, was "heartbreaking". Taking a swipe at the state government, she questioned whether there was "even such a thing as a government" in Tamil Nadu, alleging that Chief Minister Vijay, several ministers and officials were away watching a film on its release day. She said it remained to be seen whether the government would respond to the custodial death after returning to work.
ANOTHER DEATH WEEKS AGO
The incident comes weeks after the custodial death of a physically disabled man, Sabarivarman, who was arrested in connection with an illegal gutka sale case and later died in judicial custody in Nagercoil.
The post-mortem examination of Sabarivarman revealed 19 injuries on his body. Senior police officials said three jail warders, along with inmates, assaulted him inside the prison. The warders were arrested after CCTV footage allegedly confirmed the assault.
Sabarivarman had been arrested for allegedly selling banned gutka and pan masala products. According to officials, it was the third case registered against him for the same offence. He was remanded to judicial custody on July 9 by a Nagercoil court. An eyewitness who saw his body claimed multiple external injuries were visible, though officials are yet to determine the exact cause of death.
The latest death has once again brought custodial violence in Tamil Nadu under scrutiny. The state's most high-profile custodial death case remains that of the father-son duo, P Jayaraj and J Bennix, in Thoothukudi in 2020, which sparked nationwide outrage. In April this year, nine policemen were awarded the death penalty in the case.
Tamil Nadu has also witnessed several other alleged custodial deaths in recent years, including those of Ajith Kumar in Sivaganga and Marimuthu in Tiruppur in 2025, both of which triggered widespread public outrage and renewed calls for police accountability.
