Chennao, Aug 14:
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation into the murder of former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Tamil Nadu president K Armstrong, nearly two years after he was hacked to death in Chennai.
The CBI’s Special Task Branch in Chennai has re-registered the FIR originally filed by the Sembium police and begun a fresh investigation into the July 5, 2024 murder.
Armstrong was attacked by a group of assailants while he was overseeing the foundation work of his under-construction house on Venugopal Street in Perambur. According to the FIR, around eight men surrounded him at about 7 pm and repeatedly attacked him with knives, causing injuries to his head, face, hands and back. Those who attempted to rescue him were also attacked.
The case was initially investigated by the Chennai police, who arrested 28 people in connection with the murder. One of the accused, history-sheeter Nagendran, died in hospital in October 2025, while another accused, K Tiruvengadam, was killed in a police encounter on July 14, 2024.
The transfer of the investigation to the CBI follows a prolonged legal process. The Madras High Court had ordered the CBI to take over the probe in September 2025 and quashed the chargesheet filed by the city police.
The then Chennai police commissioner subsequently approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order. The petition was later withdrawn, clearing the way for the CBI to assume charge and conduct a fresh probe.
The CBI has now registered the case under Sections 191(1), 191(2), 118(1), 103 and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The fresh investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the murder, the alleged conspiracy and the roles of those already arrested, besides looking into any aspects that may not have been fully addressed during the earlier investigation.
The development comes more than two years after Armstrong’s killing, which had triggered widespread political reactions and raised questions over the safety of political leaders in Chennai.