The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Kiruttinan murder case trial stayed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 10, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Kiruttinan murder case trial stayed

Staff Reporter

Government moves Madurai Bench for transfer of case to any other district Mr. Ramiah, brother of Kiruttinan, alleged that the judge was very "close" to a DMK Union Minister and hence was favouring the accused.

MADURAI: The State Government on Wednesday moved the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court for transfer of the T. Kiruttinan murder case pending before the III Additional District and Sessions Court here to any other district.

Admitting the petition, Justice T.V. Masilamani stayed the trial till June 22 and issued notices to the prime accused, M.K. Azhagiri, son of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, and 12 other accused. He also directed to place on record the letters written by the trial court judge to the Principal District and Sessions judge and Registrar of the Bench, in January, expressing unwillingness to hear the case.

T. Kiruttinan, former Minister in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government and former Member of Parliament, was murdered here on May 20, 2003. The Bench, on December 17, had dismissed a similar transfer petition moved by T. Ramiah, brother of the deceased, with a direction to the trial judge to control the proceedings and not to allow persons unconnected with the case inside the court hall.

Mr. Ramiah alleged that the judge was very "close" to a DMK Union Minister and hence was favouring the accused.

The State Government neither objected to the transfer of the case nor supported the petitioner but only left it to the Bench's discretion.

In the present petition before the Bench, the investigating officer said following the dismissal of the earlier petition preferred by Mr. Ramiah, the presiding officer of the trial court wrote to the principal seat of the High Court and the Principal District and Sessions judge here, stating that he was not inclined to hear the case anymore and that the case may be withdrawn from his court and transferred elsewhere.

"He also informed about the letters in the open court. But, contrary to that now the judge is very anxious to take up the matter and he has even directed the police to issue summons to witnesses in the case. This has prompted us to move this court. Unless the trial is stayed and the case is transferred, we will be facing problems with the trial court," said K. Duraisamy, State public prosecutor.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

AIADMK plea against legal action

Police begin probe into question paper leak Police probe alleged paper leak in re-examination for constable selection

Rich harvest for ryot's daughter

Poll roll web search facility launched in the State

Award scheme for students launched

Kiruttinan murder case trial stayed

Assault case: Acharya cited as first accused

Cheating complaints: Acharya questioned

Deadline extended for nursery schools

Primary school students clean toilets

Poll panel seeks report

Vice-Chancellor appointed

Special trains

Anxious wait for CBSE students

Briefly