TN Law Minister Denies Drug Angle in College Student Amuthan Killing Case

Tamil Nadu Law Minister R Nirmalkumar told the Legislative Assembly on Monday, August 17, 2026, that the recent killing of third-year engineering student Amuthan in Malumichampatti, Coimbatore, was the result of a vendetta attack following a group clash between students and had no connection to drug use.

Replying to a special calling attention motion moved by Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin and other members, the Minister refuted claims that Amuthan was murdered for complaining to police about drug peddling or that police had leaked any such complaint.

Unsatisfied with the Minister's response, DMK members argued with Mr. Nirmalkumar and Public Works Department Minister Aadhav Arjuna before staging a walkout from the House.

According to details shared by the Law Minister, the conflict began on August 9 when fourth-year students attacked Amuthan and his second-year friends. The following day, August 10, around 5 a.m., Amuthan's friends retaliated by targeting the fourth-year students at their rooms in Ottaikalmandapam and Poonga Nagar, seizing their mobile phones before fleeing in vehicles.

The injured students received treatment at a private hospital. Later that morning, around 8.30 a.m., the fourth-year students intercepted Amuthan and his friends. While one companion managed to escape, the group took Amuthan to an open ground, assaulted him, and left him in a friend's room around 10.30 a.m. Amuthan remained unconscious until 3 p.m. and was subsequently taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Police filed two cases in connection with the incident, arresting 15 individuals in one case and two in the second. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was also invoked as Amuthan belonged to the Scheduled Caste. His body was handed over to his family on August 10 following a post-mortem examination.

Mr. Nirmalkumar stated that Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu and Backward Classes Minister V. Sampath Kumar visited Amuthan's family to offer ₹6 lakh in financial relief along with a government job for his brother. He added that the police will file a charge sheet within three months.