The Madras High Court on Monday delivered its verdict by releasing Kausalya's father, who was accused of his direct involvement in the murder of Shankar, a dalit boy for marrying his daughter.
The Madras High Court today rejected the death sentence imposed on Kausalya's father Chinnasamy in the Udumalaipettai Sankar murder case.
Kausalya from Palani married her college mate who belonged to a different caste against the wish of her parents. On March 13, 2016, Kaushalya and her husband Shankar were brutally slashed by three men at the Udumalaipettai bus stand as Kausalya's parents continued to threaten the couple.
While Shankar died tragically, Kaushalya survived with severe injuries.
After hearing the case, Tirupur Court Judge Alamelu Nadarajan acquitted Kausalya's mother, Annalakshmi, uncle Pandidurai and Prasanna. Kausalya's father Chinnnsami, Jagadeesan, Manikandan, Selvakumar, Kalai Tamilvanan and Michael, six of the remaining nine, were sentenced to death. The 9th accused Stephen Danraj was sentenced to double life imprisonment and the 11th accused Manikandan was sentenced to 5 years. Chinnasami was sentenced to ten years rigorous imprisonment along with each sentence and was fined Rs 3 lakh. He was also ordered to pay Rs 2 lakh to Kausalya. Jagadeesan was sentenced to death and a fine of Rs. 1,30,000. Manikandan and Selvakumar were fined 1,65,000 rupees each along with the death sentence.
In this case, the case was recommended to high court to confirm the death penalty. Similarly, the accused appealed against the conviction and the police appealed against the release. Appeals were filed at the Madras High Court on behalf of the convicts. The case was heard by a panel comprising Justices Sathyanarayanan and Nirmal Kumar.
After all the arguments were concluded today, the judges in this case acquitted the first accused, Kausalya's father, Chinnasami. Similarly, the 9th accused Danraj and the 11th accused Manikandan were also acquitted.
In addition, the other five sentenced to life imprisonment have been reduced to a minimum of 25 years in prison.
Kausalya's mother Annalakshmi and three others were acquitted and the case filed by the police was dismissed.