BJP activist's murder: Kerala high court acquits 5 CPM workers
Kochi: High court has acquitted five CPM workers — Akhilesh alias Akhil, Bijesh alias Manushyakuttan, M Kalesh, P K Shyjesh and K C Vineesh — who had been sentenced to life imprisonment by Thalassery additional sessions court in connection with the 2008 murder of BJP worker K V Surendran.
According to prosecution, Surendran, 62, was hacked to death on March 7, 2008, at his residence near Thalassery, allegedly due to political enmity amidst recurring clashes between CPM and BJP/RSS activists. The accused were alleged to have trespassed into the deceased's house and attacked him with deadly weapons. During the incident, Surendran's wife, Soumini, was allegedly threatened and wrongfully restrained by the accused Shyjesh.
The trial court had convicted the five accused and sentenced them to life imprisonment, imposing a fine of Rs 1 lakh each. The conviction was primarily based on the testimony of Soumini, the sole eyewitness.
In the appeals filed by the accused, the bench of Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar observed that the prosecution's case rested entirely on Soumini's evidence. On evaluating her testimony, HC noted that she had introduced several new facts during her deposition in court that were absent from her earlier statements.
HC also found her conduct — such as not informing her children, not inquiring about the hospital where her husband had been taken and not attempting to administer first aid — to be highly unnatural and inconsistent with the ordinary course of human behaviour.
HC, therefore, held her testimony to be unreliable and untrustworthy, and further questioned the credibility of her presence at the scene of the crime. In the absence of corroboration on material particulars, the bench concluded that a conviction solely based on her testimony could not be sustained. Finding that the prosecution had failed to establish the appellants' guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the HC set aside the trial court's judgment and acquitted all five accused.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
13 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta is guest at Adda today
Four months ago, Rekha Gupta was picked to lead the BJP government in Delhi, marking a return to power for the party after 27 years in the city. A three-time councillor and a first-time MLA, she is now the face of a government that has promised to make Delhi the capital that India can be proud of. On Thursday, the Chief Minister will be the guest at Express Adda in Delhi. No stranger to the city's politics, Gupta started out as a student leader with the ABVP in the early 1990s and went on to serve as president of the Delhi University Students' Union in 1996-97. The Shalimar Bagh MLA entered the city's electoral politics in 2007, when she was elected as a councillor in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). She made it to MCD House twice again before being chosen as Chief Minister. In March, she announced several schemes as part of an ambitious budget estimate of Rs 1 lakh crore for the first time, big ticket announcements ranging from a clean Yamuna to pothole-free roads, and more recently, regulation on private school fees. Gupta's tenure so far has also seen an emphasis on improving road and health infrastructure, and on adopting Central schemes. With emphasis on increased coordination with the Centre, she has met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah as well as other Union ministers, especially on issues such as cleaning of the Yamuna, road infrastructure, law and order and health. Within days of taking oath, Gupta and her ministers also cleared the decks for the adoption of the Ayushman Bharat insurance as well as the health infrastructure upgrade schemes. This was followed by the BJP wresting control of the MCD from AAP, the previous ruling party in Delhi, essentially giving the city a 'triple-engine' BJP government. Among the challenges she faces in the months to come is balancing people's expectations and her government's development mantra, and delivering on promises such as Rs 2,500 aid for women and cleaning the Yamuna. At Express Adda, Gupta will be in conversation with Vandita Mishra, National Opinion Editor, The Indian Express. The Express Adda is a series of informal interactions organised by The Indian Express Group and features those at the centre of change. Previous guests include Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, philanthropist Bill Gates and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
Farmers from Sangli district lie on ground to oppose land mapping for Shaktipeeth
Kolhapur: Farmers from Atpadi tehsil's Shetphale village in Sangli district protested against highway officials conducting land surveys for the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway by lying on the ground amid heavy police presence. Their key demand was that compensation criteria for land acquisition should be announced before the survey proceeded. The revenue department sent notices to the farmers on Tuesday, a day before the land mapping survey, informing them about the survey for the Shaktipeeth Highway land acquisition. From Shetphale village, more than 40 hectares of land owned by 429 farmers will be acquired for this project. When the land survey officials arrived on Wednesday, farmers strongly opposed the survey despite the heavy police presence. Atpadi tehsildar Sagar Dhawale and inspector Vinay Bahir were also present at the spot. One of the land survey officials said, "A land mapping survey for the Shaktipeeth Highway will be held between June 25 and Aug 10 in the 19 villages from four tehsils in Sangli district. This is a time-bound programme as instructed by state govt. This survey will be conducted in Atpadi, Kavathe Mahankal, Tasgaon and Miraj tehsils in Sangli district in the presence of the police force." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The discontent among farmers has increased as the administration started the survey without announcing the compensation criteria for the project-affected farmers. Satish Sakhalkar, an activist from the Shaktipeeth Highway Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti from Sangli district, said, "Farmers in Sangli district will not allow such authoritarian tendencies to continue. The Shaktipeeth Highway will cause huge losses to farmers, agriculture and the environment. The risk of major floods in the villages around Sangli will increase. Many future generations of farmers will be affected. The highway should be cancelled. We are ready to fight a battle against govt for our demand." On Tuesday, the state cabinet meeting chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis approved a provision of Rs 20,787 crore to accelerate the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway (High-Speed Expressway) project of 802.6km that will connect 12 districts of the state and create a religious tourism circuit by connecting the Shaktipeeths. Kolhapur: Farmers from Atpadi tehsil's Shetphale village in Sangli district protested against highway officials conducting land surveys for the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway by lying on the ground amid heavy police presence. Their key demand was that compensation criteria for land acquisition should be announced before the survey proceeded. The revenue department sent notices to the farmers on Tuesday, a day before the land mapping survey, informing them about the survey for the Shaktipeeth Highway land acquisition. From Shetphale village, more than 40 hectares of land owned by 429 farmers will be acquired for this project. When the land survey officials arrived on Wednesday, farmers strongly opposed the survey despite the heavy police presence. Atpadi tehsildar Sagar Dhawale and inspector Vinay Bahir were also present at the spot. One of the land survey officials said, "A land mapping survey for the Shaktipeeth Highway will be held between June 25 and Aug 10 in the 19 villages from four tehsils in Sangli district. This is a time-bound programme as instructed by state govt. This survey will be conducted in Atpadi, Kavathe Mahankal, Tasgaon and Miraj tehsils in Sangli district in the presence of the police force." The discontent among farmers has increased as the administration started the survey without announcing the compensation criteria for the project-affected farmers. Satish Sakhalkar, an activist from the Shaktipeeth Highway Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti from Sangli district, said, "Farmers in Sangli district will not allow such authoritarian tendencies to continue. The Shaktipeeth Highway will cause huge losses to farmers, agriculture and the environment. The risk of major floods in the villages around Sangli will increase. Many future generations of farmers will be affected. The highway should be cancelled. We are ready to fight a battle against govt for our demand." On Tuesday, the state cabinet meeting chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis approved a provision of Rs 20,787 crore to accelerate the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway (High-Speed Expressway) project of 802.6km that will connect 12 districts of the state and create a religious tourism circuit by connecting the Shaktipeeths.
India Gazette
36 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Himachal CM slams BJP over 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' campaign, says Congress established democracy
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 25 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for observing Emergency Day as a 'black day', saying that the party is tarnishing the very Constitution that gave it power. The CM also reaffirmed Congress' role in building democracy in India and called BJP's criticism an insult to democratic values. 'Congress established democracy and framed the Constitution. Today, BJP is observing 'Murder of Democracy Day' by defaming that very Constitution. It is this Constitution that brought them to power, and now they are disrespecting it,' Sukhu said, taking a direct dig at the BJP government's campaign of observing June 25 as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas.' Notably, the Chief Minister also highlighted the state's preparedness for the monsoon. 'We are fully prepared for the monsoon. Tourists can come to Himachal without any fear. Even in 2023, despite heavy damage, we safely evacuated thousands of tourists. I advise visitors to avoid riverbanks and enjoy urban landscapes instead,' the Chief Minister said. 'There is no reason to fear. Himachal is ready. Tourists are welcome,' he added. Amid ongoing speculation about changes in the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, Sukhu extended his support to State Congress President Pratibha Singh, saying he had 'no objection' to her continuing as party chief. Meanwhile, on the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) issue, Sukhu reiterated his government's stand to fight for Himachal's right to 12 per cent free power royalty from BBMB projects. 'It's been 14 years since the Supreme Court ruled in our favour, yet Himachal hasn't received its rightful share. Punjab and Haryana keep creating hurdles. If SJVNL and NHPC can give us 12 per cent royalty, why can't BBMB? Our natural resources are being used in these projects,' the CM said, blaming the Central government for inaction. 'Had Himachal received its due share, it would have become a prosperous state by now,' Sukhu added. In an initiative concerning the health sector, the Chief Minister also flagged off 12 electric scooters from his official residence Oak Over in Shimla, as part of a programme run by the AIDS Control Society. These scooters will deliver medicines to HIV/AIDS patients at their doorsteps in every district and provide on-site counselling. 'Through the AIDS Control Society, 12 electric scooters have been launched today to ensure that medicines reach HIV-positive patients at home. The government is committed to their treatment and well-being,' Sukhu said. Sukhu emphasized that along with access to proper treatment and medicines, public awareness is key to AIDS prevention. (ANI)
