Three convicted members of the notorious 'Bawaria' gang have approached the Madras High Court, challenging the life imprisonment handed to them by a Chennai trial court for the 2005 murder of former AIADMK legislator K Sudarsanam.
High Court Admits Appeal, Seeks State Response
A vacation bench of the Madras High Court, comprising Justices S M Subramaniam and P Dhanabal, admitted the appeal filed by the convicts on Friday. The bench has directed the state government to file its official response in the matter. The appellants, identified as Rakesh, Jagadeesh, and Ashok, were sentenced to life in November by the XV additional sessions judge, Abraham Lincoln.
In the detailed trial court order, Rakesh was convicted on five counts, while Jagadeesh and Ashok were found guilty on four counts each. A fourth accused, Jaildar Singh, was acquitted of all charges.
A Brutal Crime That Shocked Tamil Nadu
The case dates back to the early hours of January 9, 2005. A five-member gang forcefully entered the residence of K Sudarsanam, the former AIADMK MLA from the Gummidipoondi constituency, at Thanakulam near Periyapalayam. The assailants shot Sudarsanam dead, attacked his wife and son, and fled after looting 62 sovereigns of gold jewellery.
The murder of a sitting party MLA triggered a massive political and police response. The then Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa, personally ordered a manhunt to track down and arrest the culprits. Under the leadership of the then Inspector-General S R Jangid, five special police teams were formed to investigate the case.
Nationwide Manhunt and Trial Proceedings
The special investigation team made swift progress, identifying the gang members within a month. The main accused was apprehended on February 1, 2005. Subsequently, in March 2005, police arrested several members of the Bawaria gang from the states of Haryana and Rajasthan.
The investigation took a dramatic turn in September 2005 when two key accused were killed in an encounter in North India. Police registered a case against 32 individuals. Among those arrested were nine members, including Om Prakash from Haryana and his brother Jagadeesh. Three women who were initially granted bail later absconded. During the course of the legal proceedings, two of the accused, including Om Prakash Bawariya, died in prison.
The trial was extensive, with the prosecution examining a total of 86 police witnesses to build its case against the accused. The recent appeal in the High Court marks a new chapter in this long-standing legal battle that has spanned nearly two decades.
