Manichan's release: Government receives notice on wife Usha's plea

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the state government on a plea filed by the wife of Manichan, the convict in the Kalluvathukkal hooch tragedy, seeking relief from the government's order to pay a fine of Rs 30.45 lakh for Manichan's release. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Justice JB Pardiwala directed the government to reply within three weeks. The court observed that the government's condition that Manichan should pay the fine, despite the governor ordering his release, was surprising.

Manichan, the seventh accused in the case, was sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 30.45 lakh. On May 20, the Supreme Court bench chaired by Justice AM Khanwilkar had directed the state government to take a decision on Manichan's release within four weeks. Following this, the way was cleared for Manichan's release when the state cabinet recommended to the governor to release Manichan and Governor Arif Muhammad Khan accepted it. However, the state government is of the view that Manichan has to pay the fine of Rs 30.45 to get released from jail. With this, uncertainty began to loom over Manichan's release. Following this, Usha approached the Supreme Court.