HC upholds life imprisonment awarded to Retd Army officer

The Madras High Court today upheld the life imprisonment awarded to a retired Army officer by a Fast Track Court for murdering a 13-year-old boy for trespassing into an army residential compound here in 2011.
On July 3, 2011 K Ramraj had opened fire on Dilson after he and some other boys from a nearby slum crept into the Army's enclave near the Island Grounds to pluck some fruit.
The FTC had on April 20, 2012 held Ramraj guilty of murder under Section 302 and screening or concealing evidence under section 201 read with 302 of IPC and provisions of the Arms Act and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The court had also slapped a fine of Rs 60,000 on him, of which Rs 50,000 was to be paid as compensation to Dilson's mother.
Ramraj had filed an appeal before the High Court, praying that the conviction and sentences imposed on him be set aside.
Dismissing his prayer, a division bench comprising Justices S Rajeswaran and P N Prakash today concurred with the lower court's judgment and said the prosecution has proved the charges framed against Ramraj beyond reasonable doubt.