Supreme Court Stays Madras High Court Order Quashing TN Police Chargesheet In Armstrong Murder Case; No Stay On CBI Probe

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Madras High Court's order which quashed the chargesheet filed by the Tamil Nadu Police in the case concerning the murder of BSP leader Armstrong. However, the Court did not stay the High Court's direction transferring the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The bench of Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice NV Anjaria passed the interim order after hearing Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra on behalf of the State of Tamil Nadu. The bench issued notice on the Special Leave Petition filed by the State against the Madras High Court's order.

It was on September 24 that the High Court bench of Justice P Velmurugan passed the order in a petition filed by Armstrong's brother, Keynos, who had sought a CBI probe, alleging that there were major shortcomings in the investigation being carried out by the state police. The High Court held that there were procedural lapses in the investigation and material contradictions in the chargesheet.

In its petition before the Supreme Court, the State submitted that the police had filed a comprehensive chargesheet running into 7,411 pages and arraying 30 accused persons, which was quashed by the High Court in a "casual manner". Luthra submitted before the bench today that CBI investigation has to be ordered only in exceptional cases only after finding glaring lapses in the State Police investigation.

Earlier, the Madras High Court had expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Tamil Nadu Police handled the probe, holding that the investigation suffered from serious lapses and therefore warranted transfer to an independent central agency. The High Court had also set aside the chargesheet filed by the State police.

"It is submitted that the Hon'ble High Court has not even bothered to glance at the chargesheet or its detailed contents, yet has recklessly and inexplicably quashed a meticulously prepared and comprehensive chargesheet," the State said.

Armstrong, a prominent Dalit leader, was brutally hacked to death on July 5, 2024, outside his residence in Perambur, Chennai, by a group of armed assailants.

Case : The Commissioner of Police v. K. Immanuvel @ Keynos Armstrong and Another | SLP(Crl) No. 15897/2025