The Supreme Court of India today stayed the order passed by the Madras High Court that quashed the chargesheet in the high-profile murder case of K. Immanuvel Keynos Armstrong, President of the Tamil Nadu Bahujan Samaj Party. The Apex Court also issued notice on a special leave petition filed against the High Court order.
On 5 July 2024, K. Armstrong was brutally murdered in Perambur, Chennai, by unknown assailants disguised as food delivery personnel. The case attracted widespread attention given Armstrong’s status as a prominent Dalit leader and political figure. A 7,411-page chargesheet naming 30 accused was filed in October 2024, along with extensive forensic evidence, witness statements, and other investigative materials.
On 24 September 2025, the Madras High Court passed an order directing quashing of the chargesheet, citing alleged material contradictions, selective investigation, and failure to apprehend key conspirators. The court ordered a fresh investigation and transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing concerns over impartiality and thoroughness of the original probe.
The State of Tamil Nadu challenged the High Court’s ruling before the Supreme Court, filing a special leave petition arguing that the detailed investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was professional, exhaustive, and based on credible evidence.
The petition emphasized that most accused were in custody except two absconding persons, and that key witnesses including the deceased’s wife and Bar Council Chairman were examined. It referenced the ongoing efforts to apprehend them and urged that the High Court erred in quashing the chargesheet without proper scrutiny.
State of Tamil Nadu and Anr. vs K. Immanuvel @ Keynos Armstrong and Anr. [Proceedings on 10 October 2025]