Madras High Court’s Verdict on Bail Plea
In a landmark ruling, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has rejected petitions for the suspension of life sentence and the grant of bail filed by four convicted police personnel. These officers, including DSP Ramakrishnan (then a sub-inspector), Jeyasekaran, Subbaiah, and Veerabahu, were sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 10,000 each earlier this year by a Thoothukudi sessions court.
The Custodial Death of Vincent
The case dates back to 1999 when Vincent, a salt pan worker from Mel Alangarithattu in Thoothukudi, was taken for interrogation in connection with a country bomb case. Unfortunately, Vincent’s wife Krishnammal alleged that he was severely beaten while in custody. A post-mortem examination revealed a shocking 38 injuries on his body, leading to a murder case against 11 police personnel.
After a lengthy legal battle lasting 25 years, nine of the accused were convicted of Vincent’s death. The convicted officers subsequently appealed to the high court, citing wrongful implication and trial delays as reasons for seeking suspension of their sentence.
High Court’s Judgment
However, a bench comprising Justices AD Jagadish Chandira and R Poornima dismissed their plea. The court maintained that the delay in the trial proceedings was a result of the accused’s actions, and the trial court had conducted a thorough and fair trial before delivering its verdict.
The Madras High Court emphasized the gravity of the custodial death case and upheld the trial court’s decision, stating that justice had finally been served after a long wait of two and a half decades. As a result, the bail petitions of the convicted police officers were turned down.
This verdict by the Madras High Court reaffirms the importance of upholding justice and accountability in cases of custodial deaths, setting a significant precedent for similar legal battles in the future.
