Madras HC transfers BSP leader Armstrong murder probe to CBI

In a major setback for the Tamil Nadu government, the Madras High Court on Wednesday transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the probe into the gruesome July 2024 murder of former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) state president K. Armstrong by an armed gang.

Passing the order, Justice P. Velmurugan expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Greater Chennai Police had conducted the investigation, highlighting several glaring lapses in the probe. The case was transferred to the CBI on a petition filed by the deceased leader’s brother, K. Imanuel.

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During the hearing, Justice Velmurugan had earlier pulled up the city police for not complying with even the basic requirement of conducting an identification parade, despite there being eyewitnesses to the crime.

When Additional Advocate General P. Kumaresan, appearing for the police, argued that an identification parade would be futile as the accused’s photographs had already been widely circulated in the media, the Judge retorted, “Was the media an eyewitness to the crime? Media may publish any picture for their own purposes. The police have miserably failed to conduct the parade, though the defence could have attacked the prosecution on the ground that the accused’s photographs had already been published.”

The petitioner’s counsel contended that many criminal cases end in acquittals due to investigative flaws, and this case was no exception. Relying solely on CCTV footage, he argued, was no justification for skipping the identification parade.

According to the chargesheet—spanning nearly 7,000 pages—Armstrong was brutally hacked to death on July 5, 2024, near his under-construction house in Perambur, North Chennai, by an eight-member gang disguised as food delivery agents.

The crime was carried out in full public view, with eyewitnesses including his brother K. Veeramani, driver Abdul Kani, real estate broker Balaji, and construction workers Mohanraj and Suresh. Veeramani himself sustained stab injuries on his head and back while trying to save his brother. His complaint formed the basis of the FIR, in which he had clearly stated he could identify the attackers.

Though the police filed a chargesheet naming 30 accused, the defence cited a Supreme Court ruling that allows a High Court to transfer a case to the CBI if dissatisfied with a state police investigation.

Armstrong, a staunch Ambedkarite and activist, was widely respected. His funeral drew over one lakh supporters and sympathisers, including 3,000 advocates and law students. On the slain leader’s first death anniversary, his wife Porkodi launched a new outfit, the Tamil Maanila Bahujan Katchi. The event saw the participation of several dignitaries, including Kamala T. Gavai, mother of Chief Justice BR Gavai.