KOCHI: The verdict in the Periya twin murder case is a setback to the CBI as six of the 10 persons arraigned by the agency were acquitted by the court.
The CBI court also allowed four of the six accused in the case to continue on bail till the announcement of the sentence on January 3, despite strong objections raised by the agency. The four accused including former CPM MLA K V Kunhiraman could get a punishment of up to seven years’ imprisonment.
The state government had challenged the High Court’s decision to allow a CBI investigation in the Periya case before the Supreme Court. After taking over the probe, the central agency arraigned 10 more persons accused in the case.
Earlier, the Crime Branch had filed a chargesheet against 14 CPM workers in the case viz., A Surendran, Madhu A, Reji Varghese, Hariprasad A, Rajesh P, K V Kunhiraman, Raghavan Velutholy, K V Bhaskaran, Gopa Kumar V, Sandeep P V.
Of these Madhu, Reji, Hariprasad, Rajesh, Gopa Kumar and Sandeep were acquitted by the court. They were identified as key conspirators by the CBI. Four persons including Kunhiraman were found guilty after they forcefully rescued the second accused Saji George from Bekal Police Station.
They were found guilty of an offence under IPC Section 225 (obstructing lawful apprehension of accused) which can attract a punishment of up to seven years of imprisonment.
“We have no complaints regarding the CBI probe. Only because of the investigation, the accused persons could be found guilty. A majority of accused could have been acquitted, if the Crime Branch had presented adequate evidence in the court,” Krishnan, father of Kripesh said.
A lookback
Jan 5, 2019: Clash breaks out between KSU, SFI activists
Feb 17, 2019: Kripesh & Sarath Lal murdered by CPM activists
Feb 19, 2019: Main accused A Peethambaran arrested
Feb 21, 2019: Investigation handed over to crime branch
May 20, 2019: Crime branch submits chargesheet, names 14 accused, all linked to CPM
Sept 30, 2019: Kerala HC quashes crime branch chargesheet, hands over probe to CBI
Oct 26, 2019: State govt moves HC division bench against CBI probe
Aug 25, 2020: Division bench upholds single bench order transferring probe to CBI
Sept 12, 2020: State govt challenges division bench order in SC
Dec 1, 2020: SC dismisses state govt’s petition
Dec 14, 2020: CBI takes over probe
Dec 1, 2021: CBI arrests five persons
February 2, 2023: Trial starts in CBI court in Kochi
VARIOUS SECTIONS SLAPPED AGAINST ACCUSED WHO WERE PART OF HIT GANG
A Peethambaran- IPC Sections 302 (murder), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147, (rioting), 201 (destruction of evidence), 148 (rioting while armed with a deadly weapon), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 120(b) criminal conspiracy.
Saji C George- IPC Sections 302 (murder), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147, (rioting), 201(destruction of evidence), 148 (rioting while armed with a deadly weapon), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 120 (b) criminal conspiracy.
Suresh K M- IPC Sections 302 (murder), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147, (rioting), 201(destruction of evidence), 148 (rioting while armed with a deadly weapon), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 120(b) criminal conspiracy.
Anil Kumar K alias Abu- IPC Sections 302 (murder), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147, (rioting), 201 (destruction of evidence), 148 (rioting while armed with a deadly weapon), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 120(b) criminal conspiracy.
Gijin- IPC Sections 302 (murder), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147, (rioting), 201(destruction of evidence), 148 (rioting while armed with a deadly weapon), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 120(b) criminal conspiracy.
Shrirag R alias Kuttu- IPC Sections 302 (murder), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147, (rioting), 201 (destruction of evidence), 148 (rioting while armed with a deadly weapon), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 120(b) criminal conspiracy.
Aswin A alias Appu- IPC Sections 302 (murder), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147, (rioting), 201 (destruction of evidence), 148 (rioting while armed with a deadly weapon), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 120(b) criminal conspiracy.
Subeesh alias Mani- IPC Sections 302 (murder), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147, (rioting), 201 (destruction of evidence), 148 (rioting while armed with a deadly weapon), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 120(b) criminal conspiracy.
Persons who were part of murder conspiracy and destruction of evidence
Renjith T- IPC Sections 120(B)(conspiracy), 201(destruction of evidence) and 225(obstructing lawful apprehension of accused)
A Surendran- IPC sections 120(B) (conspiracy), 201 (destruction of evidence) and 225(obstructing lawful apprehension of accused)
Persons who obstructed arrest of accused
K V Kunhiraman- IPC Section 225 (obstructing lawful apprehension of accused).
Manikandan- IPC Section 225 (obstructing lawful apprehension of accused).
Raghavan- IPC Section 225 (obstructing lawful apprehension of accused).
Bhaskaran- IPC Section 225 (obstructing lawful apprehension of accused).