HC grants bail to accused in Kavin caste killing case

The court said that even in the case of the prosecution, the complainant was not directly involved in the crime but was actively involved in the conspiracy, preparation and execution of the caste killing.

The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has granted bail with conditions to K. Jayapal, cousin of Surjith, the prime accused in the Kavin Selvaganesh caste killing case.

Jayapal filed an appeal against the order II. of Additional District Judge (PCR), Tirunelveli, who refused to grant him bail. He was charged as a co-accused in the case.

Justice S. Karthikeyan granted conditional bail to Jayapala. The court said that even in the case of the prosecution, the complainant was not directly involved in the crime but was actively involved in the conspiracy, preparation and execution of the caste killing.

The court said that as per the prosecution case, the complainant, as a close relative, was deliberately helping the main accused who was destroying evidence in his quarry. The applicant’s charges related only to intimidation and assisting in the examination of evidence after the commission of a crime.

The appellant was arrested on 13 August 2025 and has been in custody since then. The prosecution relied on 70 witnesses and 37 documents were collected to support its case. Completion of the trial was not likely in the near future. Considering the seriousness of the act, the obvious act accused by the complainants, the time required to complete the main trial and the dismissal of the indictment in relation to the co-accused, the court stated that it is inclined to grant bail to the complainant under strict conditions.

The appellant was summoned to appear before the trial court at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. each day for further orders. He was ordered not to enter the scene. He was also ordered not to contact the victim’s family.

Recently, the Supreme Court quashed the charge sheet filed by the CB-CID against Saravanan and Krishnakumari, parents of Surjith.

Kavin of Arumugamangalam near Eral in Thoothukudi district, who belonged to the Scheduled Caste community, was in a relationship with S. Subhashini, a Siddha doctor from Palayamkottai. Kavin was murdered in Tirunelveli on 27 July 2025. Surjith, who is Subhashini’s younger brother, was arrested on charges of murder.

Published – 14 Oct 2026 22:03 IST