NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Tuesday announced that the custodial death case of Ajith Kumar in Sivagangai district will be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), stating that the move is aimed at ensuring a transparent and credible probe.Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin said the decision follows the Madras High Court’s observations that the ongoing CB-CID probe can continue, but he believed a CBI inquiry would provide greater clarity. “To ensure transparency and a thorough probe, I have ordered for the case to be transferred to CBI,” Stalin said. He added that the state government would fully cooperate with the central agency.Stalin also personally reached out to Ajith Kumar’s family. In a phone call to his brother Naveen Kumar, Stalin expressed grief over the 28-year-old temple guard’s death in custody and assured all necessary support, including arranging a government job for a family member. “Sorry Ma,” Stalin told Ajith’s mother Malathi, offering his condolences.Ajith Kumar was working as a security guard at the Madapuram Kaliamman temple when he was detained by police for questioning over a jewellery theft. His family has alleged that he was tortured during interrogation, leading to his death.Following Ajith’s death, the Tamil Nadu government placed Sivaganga SP Ashish Rawat on “compulsory wait” and handed additional charge to Ramanathapuram SP G Chandeesh. The case was initially handed over to CB-CID for investigation.During a hearing at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, advocate Henri Tiphagne submitted video and photographic evidence indicating that Ajith Kumar had been beaten with plastic pipes and iron rods. The court also raised concerns over the police’s failure to act on the original jewellery theft complaint.Five police personnel have since been arrested. The state government confirmed that six officers were suspended on June 28, and based on post-mortem findings, the case has been converted into a criminal case. It is now registered at Tirupuvanam Police Station under Section 196(2)(a) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and has been sent for judicial inquiry.