Kerala - Alappuzha   

Triple murder case verdict on May 15

ALAPPUZHA: Nearly three years after the sensational Kanichukulangara triple murder case, in which Everest Microfinance company promoter T.G. Ramesh, his sister Latha and driver Shamsuddin were killed, District and Sessions Court Judge D. Sreevallabhan will deliver the judgment on the case on May 15.

The trial came to an end here on Wednesday, after the process began on August 20 last year. As many as 118 out of the actual 179 witnesses were examined during this period. Five witnesses died while 54 were exempted for various reasons.

The events leading to the controversial case unfolded at 1.45 p.m. on July 20, 2005 when a lorry driven by the first and second accused, Unni and Ajithkumar, rammed into a Tata Safari carrying Ramesh and Latha driven by Shamsuddin at Kanichukulangara.

Two persons, Latha’s father-in-law Vijayadharan and Kuttikrishnan, survived the crash. Doubts whether the accident was a manipulated one were raised a couple of days later and police began investigating the case, which has Himalaya Group managing directors N.S. Sajith and K.M. Binish as the sixth and seventh accused.

Accusing fingers were pointed at Sajith and Binish because Ramesh had parted ways with them to set up his own firm only a few months before the accident.

Thirteen persons were named as accused, of which the 13th accused, Sanish, is still absconding. Sanish is accused of driving a Toyota Qualis, from which third accused ‘Mrigam’ Saju and the fourth accused are alleged to have watched and supervised the entire ‘operation’.

The nine-month-long trial saw 19 witnesses turning hostile. These included the fifth witness, Suresh, who according to the police, had seen Unni, Ajithkumar and Saju conspiring with Sajith and Binish on the Cherai beach on the morning of the accident. Saju was accused of hiring Unni and Ajithkumar for the murder.

Others who turned hostile included Krishnankutty, manager of the Ponga toddy shop, where Unni, Ajithkumar and Saju are said to have come immediately after the ‘accident’.

Binu, a supplier at the toddy shop, who is said to have overheard the three discussing the ‘accident’, also turned hostile. The tenth witness, Shivan, a confidant of Ramesh and in whose name Ramesh had bought the ill-fated Tata Safari, turned hostile too.

The charges against the first, second, third, fourth, sixth and the seventh accused include conspiracy, abetting murder, attempt to murder and murder. The rest were charged with various charges.

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