After three months, the torture victim’s family refuses to accept his body

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday (June 15, 2026) posted the matter for hearing on Tuesday. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO

More than three months after Akash Delison, 26, died following alleged torture in police custody, his family on Monday (June 15, 2026) refused to claim his body from the Rajaji Government Hospital mortuary in Madurai, despite a 5 pm deadline set by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.

Earlier in the day, Justice L. Victoria Gowri ordered A. Rajeshkannan, father of the deceased, who belonged to a scheduled caste, to receive the body by 5 pm, adding that failing that the state would be directed to take steps to dispose of it. The judge sent the case for hearing on June 16.

Delison, who was allegedly tortured in custody at Manamadurai in Sivaganga district, died on March 8 while undergoing treatment at the Rajaji Government Hospital in Madurai. His family refused to accept his body and demanded the arrest of all police officers involved in the incident.

Recently, the court was dealing with Mr. Rajeshkannan’s plea to direct the government to register a criminal case of murder, arising out of alleged custodial torture, under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with the relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The court directed the CB-CID to expeditiously conclude the investigation and submit the final report to the appropriate court. She also praised Manamadurai Judge M. Afzal Fathima, whose remand proceedings ensured the preservation of a crucial period account which now forms part of the investigative record.

The remand report revealed that instead of mechanically granting remand, the magistrate visited the Sivaganga State Medical College and Hospital, identified Delison, the accused in the assault case, through the duty doctor, communicated with him, noticed an injury on his right leg, elicited from him the circumstances leading to the injury and recorded the charges, charges and indictments he made against him.

The court magistrate also recorded Delison’s explanation for the scratches found on his body and recorded a complaint of torture against police personnel, the court said.

Delison and his acquaintance Guna were arrested in the March 5 assault case. While police said Delison suffered a broken leg while trying to escape, his family said he was subjected to torture in custody. He was taken to Manamadurai Government Hospital, Sivaganga Government Medical College and Hospital and Rajaji Government Hospital.

Published – 15 Jun 2026 22:53 IST