VILLUPURAM: The District Court on Wednesday released 17 persons accused in the murder of the notorious rowdy ‘Minnal’ Raja in 2005. But, his family decided to go for further appeal.
According to sources, ‘Minnal’ Raja (45) of Narasingapuram of Villupuram had a strong link with rowdies in other districts and was also actively involved in politics.
On February 24, 2005, ‘Minnal’ was murdered while on his way to home from a gymnasium. Villupuram town police registered a case and on the same day arrested Senguttuvan(48), Kadaparai Durai(40), Kaipai Manikandan(32), Nollamuthu(36) and Ranjith(36) of Villupuram.
Later, police arrested 15 more persons, including Ravi Alex(52), Arachellvam(45), Pathar Selvam, Shajahan, Kuamran, Gopi(34), Arul(33), Prem(32), Sezhiyan(26) in connection with the murder.
The trial in the case was on at the Villupuram District Principal Court for the past nine years. Following an inquiry with the witnesses, five among them changed their statement. Meanwhile, two of the accused - Manigandan and Sezhiyan - committed suicide in 2010 and 2012 over personal issues. Another accused Prem died in an accident in 2011.
Giving his judgement over the issue on Wednesday, Villupuram District Principal Magistrate R Krishnamoorthy said that in the absence of a proper evidence against the accused, all the 17 were released.
This came as a big relief to the accused present in the court. But, ‘Minnal’ Raja’s family said that they would make further appeal once they get the judgement copy. Observing the sensitivity of the case, police security was tightened in the court during judgement.
‘Minnal’ had been holding a district-level post in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party but later he distanced himself from the party, following a dispute with district- level party leaders. He was also close to the New Justice Party founder A C Shanmugam.