World · South & Central Asia · 2 hrs ago
Madras High Court allows Nagendran death anniversary observance
The Madras High Court allowed a family ceremony for P. Nagendran in Chennai on October 9, 2026.
Nagendran was the prime accused in the July 2024 murder of former Bahujan Samaj Party leader K. Armstrong, and died in judicial custody in connection with multiple criminal cases.
Police had refused permission, citing fears of disorder and possible retaliation.
The court said Nagendran’s family could observe his death anniversary according to their customs, while requiring the event to be limited to 60 participants.
It was to take place at the family home in Vyasarpadi from 6 p.m.
to 9 p.m., with no political slogans, banners, provocative songs or alcohol.
The police can step in if conditions are breached, and the judge said they should ensure the event passes without incident.
The Madras High Court directed Greater Chennai City Police to permit the first death anniversary observance of P. Nagendran, the prime accused in the 2024 murder of BSP leader K. Armstrong.
Justice V. Lakshminarayanan quashed the police order denying permission over concerns about possible retaliation and disruption to law and order.
The court set conditions including a limit of 60 participants and an event time of 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Nagendran’s family residence in Vyasarpadi.
The family agreed to provide the police with the participants’ names and not to use political slogans, banners or provocative songs.
The court also prohibited participants from consuming liquor and said police could intervene if the conditions were breached.
- Who
- P. Nagendran’s family, including his wife, sought permission. The court directed Greater Chennai City Police to grant it.
- What
- The court permitted a first death anniversary observance for Nagendran, the prime accused in K. Armstrong’s murder.
- When
- The court issued its direction on October 8, 2026. The observance was planned for October 9, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Where
- At Nagendran’s family residence in Vyasarpadi, Chennai.
- Why
- The family sought to follow customary observances in line with its beliefs. Police had denied permission over concerns about possible retaliation and law-and-order disruption.
Nagendran’s family
Greater Chennai City Police
Reason for position
Nagendran’s family
The family sought to hold a customary death anniversary observance.
Greater Chennai City Police
Police denied permission because they apprehended law-and-order disturbance from possible retaliatory action.
Conditions
Nagendran’s family
The family agreed to limit attendance to 60 and said there would be no political sloganeering, banners or provocative songs.
Greater Chennai City Police
The police were directed to impose reasonable restrictions, and could intervene if the court’s conditions were breached.
Nagendran’s family sought permission for an observance, and police denied the request over law-and-order concerns.
Justice V. Lakshminarayanan quashed the police order and directed police to grant conditional permission.
The observance was scheduled to take place at the family residence from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Court
- Madras High Court
- Judge
- V. Lakshminarayanan
- Attendance limit
- 60 participants
- Event time
- 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Location
- Nagendran family residence, Vyasarpadi
- Connection to murder case
- Nagendran was the prime accused in the July 2024 murder of K. Armstrong
What people are saying
Sometimes, rationality cannot be attached to beliefs.
The accused is dead but his family members are alive.