Overview

• Forest Department officials say Marimuthu hanged himself in the restroom of the Udumalai range office during questioning on wildlife-smuggling allegations.
• Udumalpet police registered a custodial death case under Section 196 of the BNNS Act after examining the forest department’s report on August 1.
• Forest Officer Rajesh, Revenue Divisional Officer Kumar and DSP Namachivayam have been appointed to lead the inquiry into the circumstances of Marimuthu’s death.
• Members of the Tamil Nadu Tribal Association and CPI(M) activists have held protests and called for charges under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
• Pandiammal, Marimuthu’s wife, has demanded an in-camera post-mortem in the presence of senior government officials to ensure transparency.