In a significant development, the Madras High Court on April 24, 2025, ordered the transfer of the murder case of 22-year-old Dalit youth Praveen to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The move comes amidst serious allegations of bias and inaction by the local police in handling the high-profile caste-based killing.
Background: Praveen’s Inter-Caste Marriage and Brutal Murder
Praveen, a member of the Paraiyar community (Scheduled Caste), was murdered on February 24, 2024, allegedly by his wife Sharmila’s brother Dinesh and four others. Sharmila belonged to the Yadava community (classified as OBC). The couple had married against the wishes of Sharmila’s family, triggering caste-based hostility.
The accused include:
- Dinesh (25) – Sharmila’s brother
- Sriram (19)
- Vishnu (24)
- Jothi Lingam (26)
- Stephen Kumar (25) – a Christian from the Paraiyar caste
Tragically, on April 22, 2024, just two months after her husband’s murder, Sharmila died by suicide. A note allegedly written by her named her father Durai Kumar, mother Sarala, and brothers Dinesh and Naresh as being responsible for Praveen’s death.
Petition Alleges Political Shielding and Police Bias
Praveen’s father, V Gopi, filed a petition before the Madras HC alleging that the Pallikaranai T14 police, under Assistant Commissioner Christin Jayasil, failed to properly investigate the case. The petitioner claimed the police ignored crucial leads, including the involvement of Sharmila’s parents and her elder brother Naresh.
Advocate Bhavani B Mohan, appearing for Praveen’s family, accused the police of being influenced by ruling DMK party cadres. He claimed that Durai Kumar, Sharmila’s father, was shielded by powerful political connections and that a DMK member named Ravi was part of a mob that threatened Praveen’s family in 2023.
Bail Controversies and Police Delays
All five accused were granted conditional bail between June and July 2024 by the Chengalpattu sessions court. The conditions required daily court appearances for 30 days. However, Vishnu and Stephen Kumar violated bail conditions and absconded immediately. The Pallikaranai police took more than five months to file an affidavit seeking cancellation of their bails, which was finally acted upon in December 2024.
Eventually, both absconders were arrested in unrelated cases — Vishnu by Guindy police and Stephen by Thalambur police. The Pallikaranai police then sought prisoner transit warrants in early 2025.
Madras HC Slams Delay, Orders CBI Probe
Expressing dissatisfaction over the bias and delay in the investigation, the Madras High Court ordered the transfer of the case to the CBI. The court also instructed the CBI to file its final report before the court and ensure that all angles, including political influence, were properly examined.
SC/ST Act Provisions Ignored by Authorities?
Despite the case falling under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Chengalpattu District Collector has not yet approved the appointment of a Special Public Prosecutor for the victim’s side. The request to appoint Bhavani B Mohan has been pending since May 2024, raising concerns about systemic apathy toward Dalit victims’ legal rights.
All five accused have been booked under:
- IPC Section 302 (Murder)
- SC/ST Act Section 3(2)(v) (committing an offense on a Scheduled Caste person)
Calls for Justice and Accountability
Dalit rights activists and legal experts have welcomed the court’s decision to involve the CBI, citing the need for an impartial investigation free from political influence. The case has reignited debate on inter-caste marriages and honor killings in Tamil Nadu, calling for urgent reforms and stronger enforcement of protections under the SC/ST Act.
Categories: Crime, Caste and Social Justice, Tamil Nadu News, Judiciary
Tags: Praveen murder case, Chennai caste killing, Madras High Court CBI order, SC/ST Act, inter-caste marriage, Tamil Nadu police bias, Sharmila suicide, DMK cadre involvement, Scheduled Caste victim justice
