Madras HC reverses 2017 acquittal, convicts 21 in murder case

CHENNAI: Over eight years after a trial court acquitted 23 accused of killing a man over an election rivalry in Villupuram in 2013, Madras HC on Tuesday reversed the order and convicted and sentenced 21 of them to life imprisonment.

"On a careful re-appreciation of the entire evidence on record, we find that the prosecution proved its case beyond all reasonable doubt and also proved the presence of the accused as members of an unlawful assembly and the existence of a common object to cause the death of the deceased," a division bench of Justices P Velmurugan and M Jothiraman said.

According to the prosecution, prior enmity existed between Baskar and Krishnaveni in connection with the Kiliyanur panchayat election. Around 12.30am on May 30, 2013, Krishnaveni, along with others assembled in front of Baskar's house, armed with deadly weapons. When Baskar tried to escape, he was chased and killed.

Concluding the trial, on April 28, 2017, the court acqu-itted all 23 accused. Baskar's wife, Amudha, then moved an appeal before the HC.

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