Wed Sep 24 09:23:30 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**CBI to Investigate Murder of BSP State President in Chennai**
CHENNAI, September 24, 2025 – The Madras High Court has ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the investigation into the 2024 murder of K. Armstrong, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) State president, who was brutally killed by an armed gang in Chennai.
The decision came on Wednesday, after Justice P. Velmurugan granted a petition filed by Armstrong’s brother, K. Immanuvel. The court expressed serious concerns over the adequacy of the initial investigation conducted by the Greater Chennai City Police.
During a hearing in July, Justice Velmurugan had questioned the police’s failure to conduct an identification parade, despite numerous eyewitnesses to the crime. He emphasized that flaws in the investigation often lead to acquittals, citing the case as a prime example. The judge dismissed the argument that CCTV footage negated the need for an identification parade, stating that media coverage did not replace eyewitness testimony.
Armstrong was attacked on July 5, 2024, in Perambur, in front of several witnesses, including his brother K. Veeramani, who was also injured while trying to defend him. Veeramani’s complaint led to the initial First Information Report.
While the city police had filed a 7,087-page charge sheet against 30 individuals, including relatives and associates of ‘Arcot’ Suresh, whose 2023 murder was cited as the motive for Armstrong’s killing, the court found reason to transfer the case to the CBI. The police investigation suggested gang rivalry was behind the murder. Nagendran, already incarcerated for another murder, was named as the prime accused. Two advocates, ‘Shambhava’ Senthil alias Senthilkumaran and ‘Mottai’ Krishnan alias Krishnakumar, have been declared absconding, with the police suspecting one may have fled to Europe. Red Corner Notices were issued to seek their extradition.
The police reported the seizure of weapons, cash, and other items related to the crime. The remaining 27 accused are in judicial custody.
**Summary of Text:**
The Madras High Court ordered a CBI probe into the murder of BSP State president K. Armstrong, citing inadequacies in the Chennai City Police’s investigation. The court criticized the police for failing to conduct an identification parade despite eyewitnesses. The police had filed a charge sheet against 30 individuals, linking the murder to gang rivalry and the previous murder of ‘Arcot’ Suresh. However, the court deemed the investigation insufficient, leading to the transfer of the case to the CBI.
First Piper 