Lifer for 8 in Sunil Babu murder

Thiruvananthapuram: Eight found guilty in the Sunil Babu murder case of Kannmoola here in 2015 have been awarded life-term and fine amounting to Rs 8 lakh, of which Rs 5 lakh will be given to family of the deceased.

Thiruvananthapuram additional district and sessions judge P.N. Seetha, who delivered the judgment, also ordered suo motu cases against three prosecution witnesses who turned hostile during trial.

From left: Rajan alias Sajith, Arun alias Gabri Arun, Vineeth alias Kichu Vineeth, and Aneesh alias Mali Aneesh.

Sunil Babu, who was 27  at the time of murder,  was the brother of notorious gangster Dini Babu and was murdered as part of rivalry between goonda gangs in the city. The ninth accused in the case was earlier acquitted for want of evidence.

From left: Binu Raj alias Kari Binu, Saju alias Kallan Saju, Pori Saji alias Saji, and Kopra Suresh alias Suresh.

The first four convicted, Rajan alias Sajith, 32, Arun alias Gabri Arun, 26, Vineeth alias Kichu Vineeth, 26, and Aneesh alias Mali Aneesh, 26, all hailing from Kannamoola and nearby areas, were awarded double life-term for murder and conspiracy and ten years rigorous imprisonment for causing severe injuries. They were also imposed with fine of Rs 2 lakh each.

 In case of default in paying fine, they will have to undergo one more year imprisonment. The sentences need to be undergone concurrently only.

The remaining four convicted, Binu Raj alias Kari Binu, 39, Saju alias Kallan Saju, 38, Pori Saji alias Saji, 38 and Kopra Suresh alias Suresh, 38, were awarded life-term for criminal conspiracy.

The court ordered cases against prosecution witnesses Vishnu, Dileep alias Nikhil Kumar and Anu for turning hostile during the trial even as their statements were earlier recorded before a magistrate under CrPC 164.

Public prosecutor M Salahuddin said that the highlight of the verdict was the court order to initiate cases agaisnt the prosecution witnesses who turned hostile. Former Medical College circle inspector Sheen Tharayil who probed the case said that since the accused were goonds many witnesses were fearing to give statement. The police could collect many scientific evidences, including DNA matching from the blood stains of the victim from the dress of the accused, said Mr. Tharayil, who is now assistant commissioner (narcotic cell) in Thiruvananthapuram city.

Sunil Babu, who was a head-load worker of CITU, was attacked by the accused at Kannamoola on December 13, 2015 evening. Sunil who ran away was chased and brutally attacked by the accused. He was also an accused in an assault case.