SC upholds life term for 10 convicts in TN's Kannagi-Murugesan honour-killing case

The Supreme Court on Monday (April 28) upheld the life imprisonment awarded by the Madras High Court to the 10 convicts in the Kannagi-Murugesan honour-killing case in Tamil Nadu, in which the couple was forcibly poisoned to death and later cremated by relatives.

The Madras High Court had commuted the death penalty awarded by the trial court to the woman’s brother, Maruthupandi, to life imprisonment and acquitted two others of all charges while upholding the conviction and life sentences of nine other convicts.

According to the prosecution, the couple was forcibly poisoned in full public view, and later their bodies were burnt in the village cremation ground in July 2003, to make the deaths look like suicide.

The killing and convictions

The inter-caste couple, Murugesan, a member of an SC community, and Kannagi, belonging to the Vanniyar community, were brutally murdered by Kannagi’s brother and her relatives. Though Murugesan’s father filed the complaint, the local police botched the investigation. After several protests and petitions, the probe was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at the request of Murugesan’s father. The CBI filed its final report in 2009.

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After a detailed investigation, the CBI charged 15 individuals in connection with the crime. The case was heard at the Special SC/ST Court in Cuddalore. Of the 15 accused, the court convicted 13 and acquitted two. Kannagi’s brother, Maruthupandi, was sentenced to death, while the remaining 12 were given life imprisonment.

The convicts later appealed against the verdict in the Madras High Court. The high court commuted Maruthupandi’s death sentence to life imprisonment and upheld the life sentences of nine others, including Kannagi’s father. Now the same verdict has been upheld by the apex court.

'Ray of hope'

Speaking to The Federal, A Kathir, executive director of Evidence organisation that raises its voice against honour killings in Tamil Nadu, said that the verdict by the apex court in the Kannagi-Murugesan case was much delayed but gives hope.

"Tamil Nadu witnesses eight to 10 caste-based honour killings every year. But there is not enough interest shown by politicians and bureaucrats to address this issue. When questions were raised about honour killings in the Lok Sabha, the government data presented during the discussion stated that Tamil Nadu accounted for just three such honour killings during the period between 2017 and 2021. In reality, 12 deaths occurred in 10 incidents. It is shocking that our society considers honour killing as its pride and not a crime," Kathir told The Federal.

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He also added that the court's upholding of the life imprisonment of Kannagi’s brother was a welcome move.

Police under fire

"We should appreciate that the court also found the police guilty for not investigating the case in a proper manner. This case should set a precedent for the police force also to take up responsibility to investigate honour killings with much care," he said.

Several women’s rights organisations have welcomed the verdict in the Kannagi-Murugesan case.

P Suganthi of AIDWA, women’s wing of CPI(M), which organised several protests against the killing and the botched investigation, said that law enforcement agencies not only lack training but are also unable to shed their casteist mindset while investigating honour killing cases.

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"Murugesan and Kannagi were murdered in 2003 only because the couple went for an inter-caste marriage. Murugesan was a chemical engineer, and Kannagi had studied BCom. But they were brutally killed by forcing poison into their ears and noses, and their bodies were later burned. The incident occurred in full public view. But the local police failed to investigate properly and even supported the honour killing. This case was transferred to the CBI only after several organisations protested against the investigation by the local police. Otherwise, this case would not have surfaced," said Suganthi.