Attappadi Madhu murder: HC freezes execution of sentence of main convict, rejects interim plea of others; Hussain could get bail

KOCHI: The High Court has frozen the execution of sentence of the main convict, Hussain, in the Madhu murder case in Attapadi. The court has also rejected the interim plea of 12 other accused. The action of the High Court came in an appeal filed by the accused against the Mannarkkad SC-ST court verdict.

As the sentence was frozen, the first accused could be released on bail pending the appeal verdict. The appeal will be heard later. The trial court sentenced the accused in the Madhu case to seven years in prison. The demand was that the execution of the sentence should be stayed pending the verdict in the appeal.

The court ordered on the basis of a personal surety of Rs 1 lakh and a condition not to enter Palakkad revenue district limits. The court observed that Hussain was not present at the scene when Madhu was taken away by the mob during the first phase of the crime. The court will hear the appeal of the accused and the government in January 2024.

The case alleges that Madhu, a tribal youth, was beaten to death in Attapadi by accusing him of theft. The incident took place on February 22, 2018. The trial court sentenced 13 accused in the case to seven years imprisonment.