The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu government to pay ₹25 lakh as interim compensation to the family of temple security guard B. Ajith Kumar who died in police custody in Sivaganga district last month.

A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete asked the State to pay ₹25 lakh, in addition to ₹7.50 lakh as compensation already handed over to Ajith Kumar’s family. The court said ₹7.50 lakh was inadequate and pointed out that higher compensation had been paid in similar cases of custodial torture.

The court was hearing public interest litigation petitions on the custodial death.

‘Government job given to brother’

The State informed the court that apart from the compensation, a government job was given to Ajith Kumar’s brother and land to their mother. It said the court’s directions were complied with. The case of the custodial death and the case of alleged theft of jewels had been transferred to the CBI, which started its probe, it said.

The CBI team collected the documents and materials relevant to the case from the High Court Registry. It also collected the report of the District Judge. The Inspector-General of Police (South Zone) rendered assistance to the team and further assistance would be provided, the State informed the court.

‘No protection for witnesses’

Counsel for the petitioners submitted that protection for the witnesses, in accordance with the Witness Protection Scheme, had not been implemented yet. The court directed the Principal District Judge, Sivaganga, to hear and dispose of the applications for protection in seven working days.

The CBI is expected to complete the investigation, as directed by the court, and file the final report, the court said, posting the matter for hearing on August 20.