TN: Killer marriage hall owner gets 2-year RI

The Principal District Court here on Wednesday sentenced Ramasamy (65), owner of a wedding hall in Srirangam, where a fire accident in 2004 killed 64 people, to two years rigorous imprisonment. It also directed him to pay a compensation of `50,000 each to the dependants of the victims and `10,000 each to those injured in the accident.

In the tragedy that took place at Padmapriya Marriage Hall on EV Srinivasachari Road at Renga Nagar on January 23, 2004, 64 people, including the bridegroom R Gururajan (40), an employee of the New India Assurance Company, were charred to death, while 33 persons, including the bride H Jayasri (32), a teacher in a local school, sustained severe burn injuries.

A case was registered by Srirangam police against Dharmaraj (42), videographer from Manachanallur, Balaji (26), light boy of the same area, Selvam, thatched roof contractor, Ramasamy from Palakkarai, Sadagopan (65), manager of the wedding hall from Srirangam, and Murugesan (40), electrician from Srirangam. Among the six accused, Selvam died before the judgment was delivered.

Judge S Velmurugan, who heard the case on Wednesday, sentenced Dharmaraj to one year RI, Sadagopan to one year imprisonment, and Murugesan to six months rigorous imprisonment.