KOCHI: The CBI Special Court in Kochi will pronounce the sentence today for the accused, including CPM leaders, in the Periya double murder case. The verdict in the case of the brutal murder of Youth Congress workers Kripesh (21) and Sarath Lal (23) is expected to trigger political tremors in Kerala.

On December 28, Judge N Seshadrinathan found 14 individuals, including former Uduma MLA KV Kunhiraman, guilty while acquitting 10 others. Among those convicted, the court established charges of murder and conspiracy against 10 individuals. CPM local leader A Peethambaran was identified as the chief conspirator behind the double murder. Peethambaran and seven others, all directly involved in the attack, played key roles in the violent assault.

The crime, rooted in political animosity and prior enmity, involved the hacking and beating to death of Kripesh and Sarath Lal. Initially investigated by the police and the crime branch, the case faced allegations of attempts at higher levels to shield CPM leaders and conclude the probe prematurely.

Dissatisfied with the investigation, the victims' families approached the High Court, leading to the state's vehement opposition to a CBI inquiry. Despite the state government's appeals to the Supreme Court, the CBI assumed responsibility for the investigation on December 10, 2020. The CBI's involvement ultimately implicated leaders like Kunhiraman. Another controversy erupted when Adv. CK Sreedharan, who initially supported the victims' families, switched allegiance to CPM and represented the accused, adding a twist to the case.

Maximum punishment
The trial court has framed charges against 10 accused for offences that can attract punishment up to the death sentence. However, the death penalty is typically reserved for the rarest of rare cases, depending on the court's assessment of the circumstances. Alternatively, the court may award a sentence of life imprisonment with rigorous terms. CPM leaders, including Kunhiraman, were named accused by the CBI for forcibly freeing the second accused Saji C George from the custody of the Bekal police.