SC upholds convictions in Tamil Nadu honour killing case
New Delhi, Apr 28 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the convictions in the infamous 'Kannagi-Murugesan' honour killing case from Tamil Nadu, dismissing appeals filed by nine convicts and two policemen challenging the Madras High Court's 2022 judgment.
A bench, comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and P K Mishra, confirmed the life sentences awarded to the convicts, including Kannagi's father and brother, and dismissed the appeals of two police officers convicted for fabricating evidence during the investigation.
The case involved the brutal murder of an inter-caste couple, S Murugesan and D Kannagi.
Murugesan, a Dalit and chemical engineering graduate, and Kannagi, a Commerce graduate from the Vanniyar community, had secretly married on May five, 2003.
Upon discovering the marriage, Kannagi's family apprehended the couple on July seven, 2003, forced them to drink poison, and subsequently burned their bodies.
Recognized as one of the first honour killing cases in Tamil Nadu, the matter was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after the local police conducted a flawed probe.
In 2021, the trial court sentenced Marudupandian, Kannagi's brother, to death and awarded life imprisonment to 12 others, including her father. In 2022, the Madras High Court commuted Marudupandian's death penalty to life imprisonment and confirmed the life sentences of nine others, while acquitting two individuals.
The Supreme Court today not only upheld the High Court's findings but also directed the State to pay Rs five lakh compensation jointly to the father and stepmother of Murugesan.
Delivering a strong message against caste-based violence, the Court observed, "At the root of this crime is the deeply entrenched hierarchical caste system in India, and ironically, this most dishonorable act goes by the name of honour-killing."
It further added, "A crime is an act against the State. But a wicked and odious crime, as the one we have just dealt with, is the ugly reality of our deeply entrenched caste structure. Honour-killing, as these are called, must get a strong measure of punishment."
Senior Advocates Siddharth Agarwal and Gopal Sankaranarayanan appeared for the appellants, while Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee represented the CBI. Advocate Rahul Shyam Bhandari appeared for the parents of Murugesan.
UNI SNG SS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
33 minutes ago
- Indian Express
16,000 smugglers jailed, 627 kg heroin seized; drug syndicates' financial backbone broken: Punjab police
The 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh' campaign has delivered a big jolt to the financial backbone of drug syndicates with Punjab Police freezing illegally acquired properties of 157 drug smugglers worth Rs 78.52 crore and recovering Rs 13.03 crore drug money in the first 100 days of the drive, police Monday said. Since the launch of the drive on March 1, Punjab Police has arrested over 16,000 drug smugglers and seized 627 kg heroin. Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that Hawala network has been effectively disrupted with the arrest of as many as 48 big Hawala operators, resulting in recovery of Rs 13.03 crore drug money. The freezing of illegally acquired properties and seizure of drug money from arrested drug smugglers have given a substantial setback to the economic infrastructure of drug smugglers and their network, effectively disrupting their funding channels and undermining their operational capacity, he added. During 100 days of the campaign, the Special DGP said that Punjab Police has registered 9,693 FIRs and arrested 16,533 drug smugglers and recovered 627 kg heroin, 252 kg opium, 15 tonnes poppy husk, 9 kg charas, 264 kg ganja, 2.7 kg ICE, 2.6 kg cocaine and 26.51 lakh intoxicant pills/tablets from their possession. The Special DGP said that Punjab Police on Monday arrested 127 drug smugglers and recovered 4.1 kg heroin, 20 kg poppy husk and ?2.20 lakhs drug money from their possession. Over 200 police teams, comprising over 1400 police personnel, under the supervision of 90 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 466 locations across the state leading to the registration of 99 FIRs, he said, while adding that police teams have also checked as many as 489 suspicious persons during the day long operation. Separately, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the anti-drug drive has transcended into a people's movement, with citizens providing information against drug traffickers. Cheema said the cabinet sub-committee, formed to monitor the anti-drug drive, took decisions to establish robust arrangements for the treatment of drug addicts. The decisions included the immediate recruitment of 200 psychologists on a temporary basis for six months, with the health department tasked to secure permanent recruitment in the interim. Additionally, psychiatrists will be empanelled across various districts as required, receiving Rs 3,000 for two hours daily to provide essential assistance to individuals striving to overcome addiction, Cheema said. The sub-committee has also directed the health department to submit a comprehensive proposal within a week for the recruitment of all necessary health staff.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Defamation case: TMC MP Saket Gokhale apologises to ex-diplomat Lakshmi Puri; calls allegations 'unverified'
Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale and former diplomat Lakshmi Puri NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale on Tuesday issued an apology to former diplomat Lakshmi Puri, the wife of Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, for his posts on social media against her over the purchase of a property in Switzerland. In a post on X, Gokhale said that he regretted putting out a series of tweets that contained wrong and unverified allegations about the purchase of property by Ambassador Puri abroad. "I unconditionally apologise for having put-out a series of tweets against Amb. Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri on 13th and 23rd June 2021, which tweets contained wrong and unverified allegations in relation to the purchase of property by Amb. Puri abroad, which I sincerely regret," he said. Last year, the Delhi high court imposed a Rs 50 Lakh fine on Saket Gokhale for defaming Lakshmi Puri, and had asked him to issue a public apology. The high court determined that allegations suggesting financial misconduct regarding a Swiss property purchase by former diplomat Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri were aimed at her spouse, BJP 's Hardeep Singh Puri. The court deemed Gokhale's publication of "derogatory content" without verification as "extremely irresponsible". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The court stated that while monetary compensation cannot fully restore a damaged reputation, it ordered Gokhale to pay Rs 50 lakh in damages within eight weeks. The apology must remain on his X handle for six months from the posting date. The judge concluded that "the offending posts are per se defamatory" and caused unwarranted legal injury to her standing. The allegations of financial impropriety fundamentally damaged her reputation, resulting in diminished social status and psychological distress, compounded by false accusations. The case originated when Puri filed a petition in the high court in 2021.
The Hindu
35 minutes ago
- The Hindu
T.N. government opposes Hindu Munnani's Lord Murugan conference in Madurai; cites Bengaluru stampede
The Tamil Nadu government on Monday (June 9, 2025) opposed the Hindu Munnani's plea for extended pre-event celebrations ahead of the Murugan devotee conference in Madurai, informing the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that it apprehended potential law and order issues and 'a situation like the recent stampede in Bengaluru'. Hence, it was willing to grant permission for only three days to the outfit for installing temporary miniatures of the six abodes of Lord Murugan at the 'Muruga Bakthargalin Aanmeega Maanadu'. The Hindu Munnani, represented by State secretary S. Muthukumar, had filed a petition before the High Court seeking a direction to the police to grant permission for installing miniatures of the six abodes of Lord Murugan at Amma Thidal near the Vandiyur toll gate and conducting pujas. The petitioner said the Hindu Munnani had decided to arrange a gathering of devotees of Lord Murugan on June 22. The miniatures of 'Arupadai Veedugal' were planned to be installed at the venue from June 10 to June 22. Pujas would be performed and prasadam would be distributed to the devotees, he said, adding that the Sthalapuranam of the six abodes would be displayed and devotees would chant Kanda Shashti Kavacham and Thiruppugazh. Spiritual and cultural programmes would be held at the venue, which is a private land, and the land owner had given his consent, he said. A representation was made to the Madurai City Police for permission to use sound amplifiers at the event. A representation was also made for arranging darshan of the miniatures from June 10 to June 22. The police rejected permission for using microphone sets and installing miniatures and temporary models, the petitioner said. He alleged that a police team went to the place where the miniatures were being made and threatened workers and volunteers not to proceed with the work. He sought a direction to the police to grant permission for installing the miniatures of the six abodes of Lord Murugan at the venue and conducting the pujas. The government told the court that the Hindu Munnani had not responded to all the questions put forth by the police. The organisation, however, submitted that it had done so. Justice B. Pugalendhi directed the Hindu Munnani to furnish its response to the questions and the police to take a decision by June 12. The court permitted the petitioner to proceed with making the miniatures. However, no puja shall be conducted for now, the court said. It posted the matter for hearing on June 13.
