A 24-year-old man in Tamil Nadu died on Wednesday, July 23, several days after he was detained by police in Thoothukudi district, prompting his family to allege that he had been subjected to physical assault while in custody. Police, however, have denied the allegations and said the man collapsed inside the lock-up before being released on station bail for further medical treatment.

The deceased, identified as N Arunachalam, was a resident of Amudha Nagar and worked as a salesperson at a state-run liquor outlet. According to the police account, Arunachalam was detained on July 17 after authorities allegedly found him in possession of 120 bottles of liquor, each measuring 180 ml, during a check. He was subsequently booked under provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act in connection with alleged illegal liquor sales.

Police officials said Arunachalam was taken to the district government hospital for a mandatory medical examination following his detention. According to a senior police officer, doctors found no visible external injuries during the examination. He was then brought back to the Thoothukudi South police station while the legal procedures related to the case were being completed.

The police said Arunachalam was placed in the lock-up along with other accused persons. Officials claimed that he appeared to be in normal condition and was speaking with other inmates before suddenly collapsing inside the police station.

According to the police version, personnel immediately responded after Arunachalam fell unconscious and provided first aid. His mother, who was reportedly present at the police station at the time, was also called to the scene. Police have said that surveillance cameras installed at the station captured the incident and that the footage showed Arunachalam suddenly collapsing inside the lock-up.

Officials further said that, as his condition appeared stable at that stage, Arunachalam was released on station bail and sent along with his relatives for additional medical examination and treatment. Police said surveillance footage from the station also recorded the process of his release.

The situation reportedly worsened after Arunachalam reached the vicinity of a hospital. According to police, his relatives informed them that he collapsed again near the medical facility and was subsequently admitted for treatment. During his hospitalisation, he underwent a medical procedure, but his condition did not improve. Despite medical intervention, he was declared dead on July 23.

His death has since triggered allegations from his family that he was assaulted while in police custody and that the injuries sustained during the alleged assault contributed to his death.

Family members staged a protest following the incident, demanding an impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding Arunachalam’s death. They alleged that several police personnel had assaulted him while he was detained.

Arunachalam’s mother, Parameswari, claimed that her son had suffered serious injuries to his head and legs as a result of the alleged assault. She demanded that the authorities conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to his death.

The family also expressed strong objections to the proposed post-mortem examination until they were satisfied that the allegations would be investigated fairly. Parameswari said the family wanted justice and would not agree to the autopsy until an investigation into the alleged police assault was initiated.

The allegations have added to concerns over accountability in cases involving deaths following police detention. Such incidents often lead to demands for independent inquiries, particularly when families dispute the official account of events and allege custodial violence.

Police, meanwhile, have rejected the family’s allegations of custodial torture. Authorities have maintained that Arunachalam had no visible external injuries when he underwent a medical examination after being detained. They have also pointed to CCTV footage as part of their account of the events inside the police station.

Following the death, police registered a case based on a complaint filed by Arunachalam’s father. Officials said an investigation was underway to establish the circumstances surrounding his death and determine the facts of the case.

The controversy has also drawn political attention. Former minister and senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Geetha Jeevan met Arunachalam’s family following the incident and reportedly attempted to calm the situation amid the protests and demands for justice.

Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin also reacted to the case, expressing concern over the death and alleging that Arunachalam had been assaulted by police after being taken for questioning in Thoothukudi. He criticised the state government’s handling of alleged custodial deaths and called for strict action against those found responsible.

The competing accounts have left the circumstances of Arunachalam’s death under scrutiny. While the family has alleged that police violence caused or contributed to his death, the police have maintained that he collapsed unexpectedly and that there were no external injuries recorded during his initial medical examination.

The ongoing investigation is expected to examine the events surrounding Arunachalam’s detention, his medical condition before and after being taken into custody, the CCTV footage from the police station, hospital records and the findings of the post-mortem examination. These factors could be crucial in determining whether the allegations of custodial assault are supported by evidence.

For now, the case remains under investigation, with the authorities expected to establish the precise cause of death and determine whether any criminal or disciplinary action is warranted based on the evidence collected.