BJP Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagenthran on Thursday said the State government should not attempt to bury the truth behind the custodial death of Ajith Kumar, a security guard at the Bathrakaliamman temple in Madapuram near Thirupuvanam in Sivaganga district, with mere words of consolation and compensation, while key questions remain unanswered.

In a statement, Mr. Nagenthran alleged that a senior official had pressurised the Sivaganga District Superintendent of Police to form a special team and interrogate Ajith Kumar even before an FIR was registered. “Why has the identity of the official not been disclosed yet” he asked. Referring to a letter sent to the Director General of Police by Saktheeswaran, an eyewitness who had video recorded the police assault, stating that he was under threat, Mr. Nagenthran asked “Who is threatening him?”.

Citing to a 2011 forgery case against J.P. Nikitha, the complainant in the gold theft case that led to Ajith Kumar’s custodial death, Mr. Nagenthran said she allegedly had links to DMK leaders. He questioned whether a special team was constituted to interrogate Ajith Kumar under pressure owing to her political connections.