'Not mentally ill but hardcore criminal'; Prosecution about accused in Dr Vandana Das murder

KOLLAM: The Prosecution refuted the defence counsel's argument that labelled the accused in Dr Vandana Das's murder as a mentally challenged person. The argument was held before Kollam Additional Sessions Judge PN Vinod on the petition of the respondent to be acquitted from the chargesheet.

Special Prosecutor Prathap G Padickal called the murder a well-planned and heinous one. The prosecutor also requested the court to not change the sections including murder and attempt to murder already charged on the accused. The commotion in the dressing room of the Taluk hospital and the brutal stabbing of Vandana with a surgical scissor were pointed out by the prosecutor to highlight the assailant’s gruesome intention to harm the victim. Dr Vandana was forced to sit down and was stabbed 26 times in the face and chest.

The defence alleged the police leaked crucial details to the media during the investigation stage of the case. They also pointed this to have created a Frankenstein image of the culprit among the viewers. Meanwhile, the prosecution argued it was the duty of the media to publish honest investigative information.

Advocates Sridevi Pratap, Shilpa Sivan and Harish Kattoor were also in attendance in court.