No Honour In Honour Killings, It's A Shameful Act: Madras High Court Grants Bail To Accused Policeman

The Madras High Court at the Madurai Bench recently granted bail to a police Sub-Inspector accused of helping his son after the alleged honour killing of an engineering graduate, while making strong observations against casteism and honour-based crimes.

Allowing the appeal filed by Saravanan, accused No.2 in the case, Justice B Pugalendhi held that the available materials did not show his active involvement in the murder itself and that keeping him in jail any longer would amount to pre-trial imprisonment.

The case concerns the killing of Kavin, an engineering graduate who was allegedly in a relationship with Saravanan's daughter. According to the prosecution, Saravanan's son, accused No.1, lured Kavin to Tirunelveli on July 27, 2025, attacked him with an aruval and chased him before killing him. The deceased suffered 19 injuries.

Saravanan was arrested on August 11, 2025, on allegations that he harboured his son after the crime, helped screen evidence and facilitated his hiding at a relative's property. The CB-CID later completed the investigation and filed the final report before the trial court.

Did the court find evidence of Saravanan's direct role in the murder?

The high court said the available records did not support a conclusion that Saravanan had an active role in the commission of the offence.

Justice Pugalendhi noted that even according to the investigating agency, there were no calls between Saravanan and his son before the occurrence. There were also no calls between Saravanan and the deceased or any member of the victim's family prior to the incident. On that basis, court held that the materials on record were insufficient to presume his active participation in the murder.

Court also recorded the defence argument that Saravanan himself informed the police about his son's involvement and handed him over to the police on the day of the incident. The allegation that he harboured his son after the murder was disputed by the appellant.

What did the Madras High Court say on casteism and honour killing?

While granting bail, Justice Pugalendhi made extensive observations on caste-based violence and honour killings.

The judge observed that although Saravanan did not actively participate in the murder, he "must take responsibility for having brought up his son with casteism" and described honour killing as "the extreme reflection of casteism."

Referring to the Supreme Court's decision in Lala Singh Vs State of Uttar Pradesh [2006], court said casteism is a "curse on the nation." It further noted that 59 honour killings had reportedly been recorded in Tamil Nadu over the past decade and that casteism had become deeply rooted in society.

The judge remarked that caste prejudices affected all sections of society, adding that even judges were not spared from caste-based perceptions and that motives were often attributed to judicial orders on caste lines despite cases being decided on merit.

Court also said that there was "truly no honour in honour killings and it is a shameful act". It stressed that reforms must begin at the school level and observed that legislation alone had not yielded the expected results in eliminating caste-based discrimination.

What directions were issued to the Tamil Nadu government?

The high court said the State must take strong initiatives to eradicate casteism from society. Referring to the recommendations of the Justice K Chandru Committee on eliminating caste discrimination in schools, court observed that they did not appear to have been fully implemented.

The judge further said the government should take responsibility and initiative to eradicate caste from the minds of people and bring about a genuine change in social attitudes.

Finding that Saravanan had spent 10 months in custody, that the final report had already been filed and that proceedings against him had been stayed in a connected matter, court granted him bail subject to stringent conditions. He has been directed to stay in Coimbatore and report before the B2 R.S. Puram Police Station twice daily during the trial.

Case Title: Saravanan v. State of Tamil Nadu represented by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, CBCID, Tirunelveli District & Anr.

Order Date: June 11, 2026

Bench: Justice B. Pugalendhi