Madras High Court permits observance of first death anniversary of prime accused Nagendran in BSP leader Armstrong murder case

The Madras High Court recently permitted the widow of the prime accused in the murder of a prominent political leader to hold a customary observance for the first death anniversary of the accused. The political leader, a Bahujan Samaj Party figure, was attacked and killed near his residence in July 2024. The prime accused subsequently passed away in police custody in October 2025. Following his death, his family faced difficulties performing traditional funeral rites because his son had also been named as an accused and was remanded in custody.

The widow of the accused approached the state authorities seeking police protection and permission to conduct a remembrance gathering and customary rites at their residence in Vyasarpadi. However, the police rejected the request, citing concerns over potential law and order issues and retaliatory actions. Consequently, the petitioner challenged this rejection in the Madras High Court, seeking conditional approval for the event.

Justice V. Lakshminarayanan quashed the police order denying permission and directed the Greater Chennai City Police to grant conditional approval. The court noted that despite the serious nature of the allegations against the deceased, his surviving family members retained the right to follow their customary beliefs and practices. The judge stated that the Tamil Nadu police were capable of maintaining order during the permitted three-hour gathering.