NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the Kerala government to release Manichan, the convict in the Kalluvathukkal hooch tragedy case. The court directed the government to release Manichan from jail as soon as possible by waiving off a fine of Rs 30.45 lakh.

Earlier, the state government had given an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that a fine of Rs 30.45 lakh should be deposited to release Manichan. In the affidavit filed by Standing Consul Harshad V Hameed on behalf of the state government, it was stated that the High Court verdict was to pay the fine amount to the families of those who died in the disaster and those who lost their sight.

31 people lost died in the Kalluvathukkal hooch tragedy on On 21 October 2000. Manichan, the seventh accused, has been in jail for 22 years now. The government had decided to release Manichan and 33 others convicted in various cases, including Manichan, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of independence. Manichan wasn't released after the stipulation that he should pay the fine. His wife Usha approached the Supreme Court against this.