Former DMK MLA, six others get life imprisonment for farmer’s murder in Tiruvannamalai

The Principal District and Sessions Court at the Combined Court Complex in Tiruvannamalai has convicted a former DMK MLA and six others and sentenced them to life imprisonment in connection with the murder of a farmer over a land dispute near Vandavasi town in May 2014.

Judge P. Mathusuthanan delivered the verdict, sentencing the seven persons to life imprisonment, with a fine of ₹8,000. The convicted persons are Kamalakannan (37), the former MLA who represented the Vandavasi Assembly constituency, Mathiyazhagan (35), Nandagopal (29), Irusappan (51), Perumal (45), Sudhakaran (35), and Duraimurugan (30).

The judge examined 20 witnesses before finding the accused guilty. The court order also said that if the fine amount is not paid, the convicted persons would have to serve an additional three months of imprisonment.

The police said that the victim, Munusamy (40), was a farmer in Sengadu village which falls under the Cheyyar taluk in the district. Along with his wife Ponni, Munusamy had been cultivating his farmland for many years. He reportedly had a land dispute with his relative Perumal and Irusappan, both of whom were convicted.

The police said that in favour of Perumal and Irusappan, former MLA Kamalakannan and the others reportedly intervened in the dispute on May 15, 2014, when the victim Munusamy was heading to his farmland. As heated arguments went out of control, both parties exchanged blows, in which Munusamy was severely injured.

Munusamy was rushed to the Government Taluk Hospital in Vandavasi and later to a government hospital in Chennai where he succumbed to his injuries. Based on a complaint by Munusamy’s wife Ponni, a case was registered by the Anakavoor police.

Trial of case

The trial of the case was held at the District Principal Sessions Court at the Tiruvannamalai District Combined Court complex. Following the verdict, the convicted persons were lodged in the Central Prison in Vellore. 

The police said Kamalakannan was the son of former DMK MLA Jayaraman, who served as the Vandavasi MLA from 2006. After Jayaraman’s sudden death, Kamalakannan contested as a DMK candidate and won in the by-election held in 2009.