New Delhi, April 17: The Supreme Court has issued a notice regarding a petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging the acquittal of police officers involved in the Udaykumar custodial death case.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta sought a response to the CBI’s Special Leave Petition (SLP) and scheduled the next hearing for May 19, 2026.
This appeal is against the Kerala High Court’s decision from August 2025, which acquitted all accused, including police personnel, citing serious flaws in the CBI’s investigation.
In its controversial ruling, the Kerala High Court examined the prosecution’s case, which stated that 28-year-old laborer Udaykumar was taken into custody by police officers in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, 2005, and allegedly tortured while in detention, resulting in his death that same night.
According to the prosecution, Udaykumar was picked up from Shreekanteswaram Park and taken to the Fort Police Station, where he was reportedly beaten and tortured during interrogation. The post-mortem revealed severe injuries on his thighs, which were cited as the cause of death.
Additionally, it was alleged that senior police officials conspired to protect the accused officers and suppress evidence of violence in custody by tampering with records and official documents following Udaykumar’s death.
Initially, several accused were convicted in this case. Two police officers received the death penalty for murder, while senior officials were found guilty of conspiracy and evidence destruction.
However, the Kerala High Court overturned the convictions, citing inconsistencies in witness statements, questioning their credibility, and procedural irregularities in the investigation.
It was also noted that several key witnesses recanted their statements during the early stages of the trial, raising doubts about the prosecution’s case.
Nearly two decades after the incident, the legal scrutiny continues, as the Supreme Court prepares to review the validity of the Kerala High Court’s decision to acquit all accused in the custodial death case.
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