The Supreme Court of India on Friday stayed the Madras High Court’s order that had quashed the chargesheet filed by the Tamil Nadu Police in connection with the murder of BSP leader K. Armstrong. However, the Court did not stay the direction transferring the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A Bench comprising Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice N.V. Anjaria passed the interim order after hearing Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, who appeared for the State of Tamil Nadu. The Bench also issued notice on the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the State challenging the High Court’s ruling.

The Madras High Court, on September 24, through a Bench of Justice P. Velmurugan, had quashed the chargesheet filed by the State Police, while allowing a petition by Armstrong’s brother, Keynos, who alleged serious lapses in the investigation and sought a CBI probe. The High Court had found procedural irregularities and contradictions in the chargesheet and directed the case to be transferred to the CBI.

In its plea before the Supreme Court, the Tamil Nadu Government contended that the High Court acted in haste, without properly examining the detailed police report. The State asserted that its police had filed a comprehensive chargesheet spanning 7,411 pages and naming 30 accused persons, and that the High Court had “casually quashed” it without due consideration.

Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra argued that a CBI investigation should be ordered only in exceptional circumstances, and only when glaring lapses are evident in the State investigation — which, he submitted, was not the case here.

The High Court, however, had earlier observed that the State Police’s probe “suffered from serious lapses”, warranting intervention by an independent central agency. It had also set aside the entire chargesheet, observing that the investigation lacked procedural integrity.

“It is submitted that the Hon’ble High Court has not even bothered to glance at the chargesheet or its detailed contents, yet has recklessly and inexplicably quashed a meticulously prepared and comprehensive chargesheet,” the State said in its SLP.

Armstrong, a prominent Dalit leader and BSP State President, was brutally murdered on July 5, 2024, outside his residence in Perambur, Chennai, by a group of armed assailants. His killing had triggered widespread protests and demands for a fair and transparent investigation.

With the Supreme Court’s latest order, while the Tamil Nadu Police’s chargesheet stands protected for now, the CBI probe into the case will continue as directed by the Madras High Court.

Case Title: The Commissioner of Police v. K. Immanuvel @ Keynos Armstrong & Anr.
Case No.: SLP (Crl) No. 15897/2025