Kavin caste killing: SC upholds quashing of chargesheet against accused’s cop parents

The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by the Tamil Nadu Crime Branch Crime Investigation Department (CB-CID) challenging a Madras High Court order to quash the chargesheet against two accused in the honour killing of Dalit techie C Kavin Selvaganesh.  In September, the Madras High Court had quashed the chargesheet against the first accused, Surjith’s parents, Saravanan and Krishnakumari, both of whom are police officers. According to reports, the apex court has also criticised the state government's handling of the case.  Kavin was hacked to death on July 27, 2025, at Tirunelveli’s KTC Nagar. He hailed from Arumugamangalam in Thoothukudi district and was in a relationship with a Thevar woman (Other Backward Class). Surjith, her brother, allegedly killed Kavin because he opposed the inter-caste relationship.  The case was transferred to the CB-CID after it emerged that Surjith’s parents, Saravanan and Krishnakumari, were police officers and were named as accused. Both are sub-inspectors in the Tamil Nadu Special Police Force and were suspended from service following the murder. The CB-CID filed an 800-page chargesheet in October before the II Additional District Court for SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act cases in Tirunelveli, alleging that Saravanan and Krishnakumari had known about their daughter’s relationship with Kavin since 2016 or 2017.  The chargesheet also alleged that Saravanan tried to dissuade his daughter and even spoke to Kavin over the phone sometime in 2018 or 2019. Further, the chargesheet accused Krishnakumari of contacting Kavin’s mother and warning her against the relationship. The Madras High Court, however, cited insufficient evidence and quashed the chargesheet. In October, the High Court also granted conditional bail to the fourth accused, Jayapal.