All seven accused in the 2008 murder of AIADMK founder and former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran's foster son-in-law Vijayan were today sentenced to life imprisonment by a court here today.
Principal Sessions Judge G Jayachandran pronounced all seven accused guilty, holding that the prosecution has proved the charges of criminal conspiracy and murder against them beyond doubt.
Prime accused Banu, a sister of the victim's wife Sudha, Karuna, the brain behind the attack, an automobile electrician Suresh who hired contract killers R Karthik, Deena alias Dinesh Kumar, Solomon and M Karthick were all sentenced to life.
The judge also directed them to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 each, failing which they would have to undergo a further imprisoment of six months.
The prosecution said the motive behind the crime was Banu's disputes with her brother Raja (also known as Dilipan and Ramachandran) over control of one of the schools run by the family and related issues involving properties and cash transactions, which also led to several court cases.
Banu was enraged over Vijayan being on the side of her brother Raja on all the issues. After deciding to eliminate Vijayan which she felt would be the solution to her problems, she sought the help of Karuna, who was a constable at that time, and paid Rs four lakh for the murder.
The prosecution said that on June 4, 2008 Suresh and his men followed Vijayan in a car and a motorcycle in two groups and rammed the victim's car from behind. When Vijayan got down to question it, he was hit by an iron pipe, leading to his instantaneous death.
Soon after the Judge held all guilty and before he read out the punishment, the accused pleaded not guilty even as Special Public Prosecutor N Vijayaraj sought death sentence for the fourth accused R Karthik.
The prosecutor said Karthick, who had 24 criminal cases against him, was beyond reformation and played a key role in the fatal attack on Vijayan.
The Judge, quoting High and Supreme Court rulings and guidelines, said the sentence of life imprisonment would meet the ends of justice and sentenced all seven to life.
He said the death sentence was not warranted as the case does not fall in the rarest of rare category. The charge of criminal intimidation was also not proved against the accused.
The victim's wife Sudha and son Ramachandran said "justice was done," whereas the son and daughter of Banu were seen crying as her mother (who was on bail) was about to be taken to jail.
Soon after the seven were sentenced, they were taken into custody by police and later lodged in Puzhal Central prison.
The eighth accused Buvaneswari is still absconding and L Venkatesh was a witness turned approver.
