A 35-year old judicial remand prisoner from Ethankadu died in the district jail at Nagercoil on Monday (July 13, 2026).

According to police, S. Sabari Varman, who ran a petty shop adjacent to his residence, was arrested on July 9 in connection with sale of banned tobacco products. A case was registered at South Thamaraikulam police station, and he was remanded to judicial custody at Nagercoil sub jail on the same day.

It has been reported that Sabari Varman was found unconscious inside his cell in the early hours of Monday. He was immediately taken to Kanniyakumari Government Medical College and Hospital at Asaripallam, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. His relatives gathered at the entrance of the hospital and demanded investigation into his death. They said they would not receive the body until the cause of death was ascertained.

Kanniyakumari District Superintendent of Police R. Stalin held talks with the protestors and assured them that action would be taken based on the post-mortem findings.

A senior police official told The Hindu that Sabari Varman had no injuries on his body during the medical examination conducted prior to his remand. Doctors from Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts would conduct the post-mortem examination. Further investigation and action would be initiated based on the autopsy report.