KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday upheld the life term sentence awarded to former DySP R Shaji and his cousin Mevakkattu Binu, the first and second accused in Praveen murder case. However, the court has quashed capital punishment awarded to third accused Priyan, Peediackal House, Palluruthy, and fourth accused Sunil alias Container Suni, Idathil, Pamapaimoola, Palluruthy and acquitted them.
The Division Bench comprising Justices K Balakrishnan Nair and P Bhavadasan dismissed the appeal filed by Shaji and Binu challenging the verdict of Additional Sessions Judge Fast Track Court (ad hoc) II, Kottayam which awarded the sentences. The court also dismissed the appeal by state government praying to award capital punishment to Shaji.
The prosecution case is that Praveen, a relative and close aide of Shaji, was murdered on February 15, 2005 near Kottayam Medical College. After the murder, the body was chopped into pieces. His limbs thrown into backwaters on Kottayam-Kumarakom route while torso dumped into Thanneermukkam bund. His head was buried at a parking ground near a bar in Cherthala, but the accused later dug it out and threw into backwaters.
According to prosecution, Praveen’s unholy relation with Shaji’s wife was the reason for the murder. Praveen was working as a conductor in a bus owned by Shaji’s wife.
He was also Shaji’s trusted lieutenant and driver of his personal car. Shaji who came to know of the relation sacked Praveen.
Binu, Praveen’s cousin also joined Shaji in committing the crime. Priyan, Sunil and Saji were hired to accomplish the mission.
Shaji was serving in Malappuram at the time of the incident. Saji is still at large.
The court said the case could not be bought into the category of the rarest of rare. “Though Praveen was dismembered after death, that is not a justification for the act of the first accused. Normally, his act has to be viewed seriously since he was a police officer and guardian of law and his act should attract capital punishment. But in the light of evidence available in the case, and also the reason which prompted the accused to commit a gruesome act, takes it out of the category of rarest of rare.”