BSP leader Armstrong murder case: Tamil Nadu Police file 5000-page chargesheet

Chennai: Almost three months after Tamil Nadu BSP chief K Armstrong was murdered, the Chennai Police on Thursday filed a voluminous chargesheet running into 5,000 pages before a local court, concluding that his death was a result of a conspiracy by three different gangs with varied motives.

The chargesheet arraigns Nagendran, who is serving a life sentence in the murder of a former AIADMK MLA, as the accused no.1, ‘Sambo’ Senthil as A2 and Aswathaman, a Congress functionary and son of Nagendran, as the A3. Chennai Police, pointing to prima facie evidence immediately after the murder, had said that Armstrong’s murder was in retaliation to his alleged role in the 2023 murder of ‘Arcot’ Suresh, a history-sheeter.

While Senthil is absconding, police say a total of 30 persons could be involved in planning and executing the murder.

However, the chargesheet says, according to sources, Armstrong’s murder was planned by Nagendran, Senthil, and Aswathaman, with help from the associates of Suresh, who suspected the deceased’s role in his murder.

Police have so far arrested 28 persons, mostly lawyers with deep political connections, of which one person was killed in an encounter within days of his arrest.

“Previous enmity, gang rivalry, and business interests are three reasons that are believed to have played a role in Armstrong’s murder. The three accused hired Suresh’s men to bump off Armstrong,” a police officer said.

Real estate disputes in Chennai and in neighbouring Tiruvallur district also played a role in the murder of Armstrong, who was popular among youngsters.

Armstrong, who had several criminal cases against him but was cleared of them eventually, was murdered on July 5 in his residence in Perambur in the heart of the city, raising questions over the law and order situation in the state.

Armstrong is a noted figure in north Chennai and was popular among youngsters belonging to the Dalit community. Armstrong, who was a councillor in the Greater Chennai Corporation, was the chief of the Tamil Nadu unit of BSP, which hardly has any presence in the state.

BSP’s Tamil Nadu unit had last month alleged that Tamil Nadu Congress chief K Selvaperunthagai had a role in Armstrong’s murder, saying Nagendran was the latter’s man.

“Ashwathaman, son of Nagendhiran, was appointed as the principal general secretary of the youth wing by Selvaperunthagai. He is a well-known rowdy who is working in the field for his father Nagendiran and Selvaperunthagai,” the BSP had said.