Stalin Slams CM Vijay's Silence as Thoothukudi Custodial Death Toll Rises to Fourth Under TVK Rule

DMK president M.K. Stalin on July 25 criticised Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's silence over the death of 24-year-old Arunachalam of Thoothukudi, who died on July 23 after nearly a week of hospital treatment following his arrest, with his family alleging he was assaulted in police custody.

Arunachalam was arrested on July 17 under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act after police said he was found in possession of 120 bottles of liquor during an enforcement drive. His mother, Parameswari, alleged he suffered grievous injuries to his head and legs from a police assault while in custody and demanded that an FIR be registered against the officers involved.

Police denied the allegations, saying Arunachalam collapsed inside the lock-up, that his arrest and personal search were videographed, his family was informed, and a medical examination found no external injuries. He was admitted to Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital on July 18 and died there on July 23 after six days of treatment.

Stalin said Vijay, who as an opposition leader had demanded accountability over custodial deaths under the previous government, had neither apologised nor publicly expressed sympathy to the bereaved family since taking office, and accused the Chief Minister's silence of emboldening such incidents.

Arunachalam's death is the fourth alleged custodial death reported in Tamil Nadu in the roughly ten weeks since the TVK government took office in May 2026, following the deaths of Chennai driver Venkatesan, 28, on June 8; Nagercoil's Sabarivarman, 35, on July 13; and a 45-year-old prisoner named P. Balaji on July 15.