In a significant development in the Ramalingam murder case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against key accused Imtathullah. The agency accuses him of providing shelter to the attackers and conspirators involved in the brutal killing that shook Tamil Nadu’s communal harmony.
The incident dates back to March 2019 when members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) carried out the gruesome murder of Ramalingam in Tirubhuvanam, Tamil Nadu. This violent act not only claimed a life but also threatened the fragile peace in the region, sparking widespread tensions.
NIA took over the investigation immediately after the attack. Their probe revealed that Imtathullah, a resident of Dindigul district, knowingly harbored fugitives linked to the crime for nearly six years. The chargesheet was submitted in the special NIA court in Poonamallee, Chennai.
According to the NIA, the murder was part of a larger conspiracy to incite communal strife and spread terror. On February 5, 2019, PFI members were allegedly forcing religious conversions in the Pakkam Vinayagam Thopu area. Ramalingam opposed their activities, leading to a confrontation that escalated into a deadly plot.
The agency first filed a chargesheet against 18 accused in August 2019, with six declared proclaimed offenders. Over the years, arrests followed: one in 2021 and three more in 2025, all sheltered by Imtathullah at his Ambur Biryani restaurant in Kodaikanal. He was apprehended in August 2025.
With all primary fugitives now in custody, NIA continues its pursuit of remaining PFI affiliates and conspirators. This case underscores the agency’s commitment to dismantling terror networks and upholding law and order.