Kannagi-Murugesan case judgment will send strong deterrent message: SC lawyers

In a special conversation with The Federal, Supreme Court advocates Rahul Shyam Bhandari and Priyadarshini delve into the landmark judgment in Tamil Nadu's Kannagi-Murugesan honour killing case.

After a long 23-year battle across trial courts, the Madras High Court, and the Supreme Court, justice was finally delivered in a case that shocked the nation. The SC rejected the appeals filed by the convicts in the infamous Tamil Nadu (TN) honour killings of an intercaste couple Kannagi and Murugesan, agreeing with the Madras High Court's 2022 decision that upheld life sentences for nine convicts and acquitted two others.

The advocates share the legal, emotional, and systemic challenges they had faced along the way—and why the verdict sets a vital precedent for future honour killing cases.

What were the biggest legal challenges in securing convictions in this case, given the 23-year gap?

Rahul Shyam Bhandari: This incident happened in 2003. Initially, the local police conducted a very shoddy investigation, which led to the appointment of the CBI to probe the case in 2005. So, the investigation part was technically covered in two years. However, the committal of the case (refers to the process of sending a criminal case from a lower court, like a magistrates court, to a higher court for trial), which should ideally happen within six months, only took place in 2010.

Between 2010 and 2017, the trial couldn’t proceed because of the intense hostility that surrounded the case. On one side were the Vanniyars and on the other side, were the Dalits.

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Witnesses were too scared to come forward. In fact, some Dalit witnesses even committed suicide out of fear. The trial court and high court have recorded this atmosphere of intimidation in detail.

The accused kept filing applications to delay proceedings. I believe, part of the responsibility for the delay lies with the system itself.

Priyadarshini, what motivated you to take up this case? Did it impact you personally or professionally?

Priyadarshini: Yes, very much personally. This case was a huge emotional challenge for both of us. I remember Rahul barely sleeping three to four hours a day. Since we are both lawyers and spouses, discussions about the case even continued at home.

It was heart-wrenching to read the case file. Particularly, the love letters between Kannagi and Murugesan revealed their deep passion but also their constant fear. Sometimes, Murugesan would lose hope, and Kannagi would encourage him—and vice versa. These letters were moving.

What shook us most was how brutally they were killed. Murugesan was stripped, tied to a tree, tortured, and forcibly made to reveal Kannagi’s whereabouts.

The whole sequence of events felt more horrifying than any movie script. Professionally, it strengthened our resolve to fight for justice in the face of systemic failures.

We learned two police officers were convicted for mishandling the investigation. Can you elaborate on this?

Rahul Shyam Bhandari: Yes. Initially, under media pressure, the local police investigated the case. The investigating officer (IO) and a sub-inspector filed a report implicating four Dalits and four Vanniyars.

When the CBI took over, they debunked this report and exposed it as deliberating misdirecting the case. The CBI found that local police had falsely implicated the Dalits. Based on this, the trial court convicted both officers. One officer was sentenced to three years, and the main IO received a life term for his role in framing innocent people and derailing the investigation.

How significant is this Supreme Court judgment for future honour killing cases?

Rahul Shyam Bhandari: This is a landmark judgment. Honour killing is among the rarest of rare crimes. Earlier judgments emphasised the need for strict handling of such cases, but this ruling comprehensively deals with complex issues—like change in the investigation, hostility of witnesses, and the credibility of related witnesses.

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This judgment will certainly be cited as a precedent in future honour killing cases. It also strengthens the legal framework on issues like hostile witnesses and delayed trials.

What kind of support systems are lacking for victims in honour killing cases?

Priyadarshini: It begins with the police. Victims first approach the police. But when officers behave irresponsibly, it destroys the victim's trust.

In this case, Murugesan’s mother rushed twice to the local police station, pleading for help while her son was being tortured. Instead of helping her, she was jailed and verbally abused. The police refused to register an FIR because she belonged to a Dalit community.

These facts were recorded by the trial court and the high court.

This not only discourages victims but worsens their suffering. While there are many upright officers, even a few bad ones can damage the whole system’s credibility.

How do procedural delays complicate cases like this?

Rahul Shyam Bhandari: When a case like this happens, the victims expect swift justice. Unfortunately, unnecessary delays give the accused more opportunities to manipulate the process.

In this case, it took five years just to commit the case to trial. Then it took another seven years for the trial to even begin because the accused kept filing applications delaying the process.

The high court has come down heavily on these delays. We need a fast-track legal framework specifically for heinous offenses like honour killings. The longer the delay, the higher the risk of witnesses being intimidated, facts being forgotten, and justice being denied.

Priyadarshini: Exactly. Witnesses forget crucial facts over time, and the pressure on them is unimaginable. Some even committed suicide under the stress. Fast-tracking these cases is the only solution.

Any final thoughts you would like to share?

Priyadarshini: We sincerely hope no one in India has to endure what Kannagi and Murugesan went through. As a nation, we need to build more empathy and ensure justice is swift.

Rahul Shyam Bhandari: Yes, we believe this judgment will send a strong deterrent message across society. It’s a step toward a more compassionate and just India.

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