Unusual court verdict in Madhu lynching case: 12 accused to serve three life terms, Rs 30 lakh compensation for victim's mother

KOCHI: The High Court enhanced the sentence of 12 accused to three counts of life term in the infamous Madhu mob lynching case. The tribal youth, who was 30 at the time, was beaten to death by a mob for allegedly stealing food from a shop. Under different sections, the court increased the sentence to three life terms, but they can serve them concurrently. Earlier, the special court in Mannarkad had sentenced the accused to seven years in prison. The first accused, Mecheril Hussain of Pakkulam, was acquitted.

The unusual verdict was given by a division bench comprising Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K.V. Jayakumar.

Accused persons two and three, Mukkali Maraikkar, Poduvachola Shamsudeen, accused persons 5 to 10, Thazhussery Radhakrishnan, Poduvachola Abubacker, Siddique of Padinjarpalla Kurikkal house, Ubaid, Najeeb, and Jeijumon of Mannampatta, accused persons 12 to 15, Puthanpurakkal Sajeev, Kallamala Murikada Satheesh, Cheruvil Harish (42), and Kallamala Biju have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

The special court upheld the acquittal of the fourth accused, Aneesh of Kakkupadi Kunnathuveetil, and the 11th accused, Abdul Karim of Mukkali Cholayil. The sentence awarded to the 16th accused, Muneer, by the trial court was reduced to one year's imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 500.

The accused must pay a fine of Rs three lakh each. Otherwise, they must serve two more months in prison. Of the fine, Rs 30 lakh must be paid to Madhu's mother and the rest to her legal heirs.

The offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act will remain. The appeals filed by the government and Madhu's mother, Malli, seeking to increase the sentence and by the accused seeking to quash the sentence were considered.

Madhu, a resident of Chindaki village in Attappadi, was killed in a mob attack on February 22, 2018.

The High Court said that the role of the first accused, Hussain, could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. A charge under Section 149 of the IPC cannot be framed just because he came to a place. It has to be proved that Hussain was involved in the mob or had knowledge of such an attack. The accused explained that he had come to Mukkali for a family need. The High Court had earlier granted bail as the first accused was not among those who had tied up Madhu to the tree.