The Supreme Court has partially stayed a Madras High Court order regarding the murder case of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader K. Armstrong, who was brutally killed in Chennai on July 5, 2024. While the apex court has allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to continue its probe into the murder, it has put a hold on the High Court's decision to quash the chargesheet filed by the Tamil Nadu police.
Justices JK Maheshwari and NV Anjaria comprised the bench that passed this interim order on Friday, October 10, 2025, after hearing an appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu police. The state challenged the September 24 order of the Madras High Court, which had initially quashed the chargesheet following a petition by Armstrong's brother, Keynos, citing inadequacies in the state police investigation.
The Madras High Court's decision to transfer the investigation to the CBI was based on "procedural lapses" and "material contradictions" it found in the chargesheet submitted by the Tamil Nadu police. Keynos had alleged that the police had not properly investigated the case, specifically failing to explore the political angle and investigate the police encounter of an accused, Thiruvengadam. The family also raised concerns that the police did not investigate the political angle.
Representing the Tamil Nadu government, Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra argued for an immediate stay on the quashing of the chargesheet. He contended that the High Court had "casually" dismissed a comprehensive 7,411-page chargesheet that included 30 accused individuals. Luthra further argued that a CBI investigation should only be ordered in exceptional cases, and only after significant lapses are found in the state police investigation. The state government argued that the chargesheet, prepared by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), included forensic reports, witness testimonies, and documentary evidence, invoking provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Explosives Act.
The Supreme Court acknowledged the state's appeal and issued a notice to the respondents, setting a deadline of November 14 for them to file their responses. The court clarified that while the CBI investigation can proceed, the order to quash the chargesheet would remain stayed.
Armstrong, a prominent Dalit rights advocate and Ambedkarite leader, was murdered by armed assailants disguised as food delivery agents outside his Chennai home. The police had stated that the murder was linked to gang rivalry related to the 2023 murder of Arcot Suresh. P Nagendran, also known as 'Rowdy' Nagendran, the main accused in Armstrong's murder, recently died due to illness.
