"We will stand by Kavin's family": minister's promise comes 14 months after Dalit techie's honour killing

TIRUNELVELI: Fourteen months after Kavin Selvaganesh was hacked to death for daring to love across caste lines, Tamil Nadu's Social Justice Minister Vanniyarasu travelled to meet the young techie's parents on Saturday and promised that the government would stand by the family until justice is secured. Kavin, a 23-year-old IT employee from the Hindu Devendra Kula Vellalar community, was murdered on July 27, 2025 in Tirunelveli. His alleged crime: a relationship with a school friend from the Hindu Maravar community. The main accused include the woman's father Saravanan — a serving Sub-Inspector of police — and her mother Krishnakumari. The case, marked by allegations of police bias from the start, has been transferred to the CB-CID. The family's fight has been for justice, not compensation. Kavin's parents rejected the state's ₹6 lakh compensation, ended a five-day protest only after Saravanan's arrest, and have told the courts they live under continuous threats, under police protection of their own. A petition before the National Commission for Scheduled Castes sought witness protection and close monitoring of the investigation and prosecution. The courts have refused to look away. The Madras High Court has repeatedly denied bail to the accused officer, with one bench observing that honour killing is "draconian", "dishonourable" and constitutionally impermissible — and another remarking that "caste passions and bigotry must be uprooted to realise the constitutional vision of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar". The court frowned at the investigating agency for "selectively" failing to arrest the girl's mother, the sub-inspector's wife and the third accused. And yet the ledger of promises remains open. The TVK government pledged a dedicated law against honour killings; the K.N. Basha committee studying the issue asked for more time, and in August Vanniyarasu said Chief Minister Vijay would announce measures only after the report. The law is still a file. That is the hard arithmetic of this case. A minister's visit is not a verdict. Bail denials are not convictions. Fourteen months after a young man was cut down for his caste, his parents are still waiting for the state to finish what it started — and for the promised law that might save the next Kavin.