Nagercoil Sabari Varman custodial death: Family to receive body only after experts assess post-mortem report

Tamil Nadu Ministers S. Rajesh Kumar and Srinath visit Sabari Varman family in Kanniyakumari district on July 16, 2026 | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Relatives of death victim S. Sabari Varman (35) of Ethankad in Kanniyakumari district insist that his body will be received only after the authenticity of the postmortem report.

The family members said this when Ministers S. Rajesh Kumar and Srinath met them to hand over the financial assistance late on Thursday (July 16, 2026). The Minister was accompanied by District Collector Kanniyakumari M. Prathap and Superintendent of Police R. Stalin.

Sabari Varman’s family refused to accept financial help. His sister said the family needed one day to send the video of the autopsy to People’s Watch, a human rights NGO, and have it checked by a doctor for further assessment. “If they verify that the postmortem report is true, I will take possession of the body in the next second,” she added.

Speaking to The Hindu, human rights activist Henri Tiphagne of People’s Watch said the footage was handed over to the family around 7pm on Thursday. He explained that the footage usually comes in multiple segments, often 24 or 31 bits, that need to be compiled into a single video that will be handed over to forensic experts for further analysis, which should be completed by Friday (July 17).

Published – 17 Jul 2026 13:33 IST