Six persons get life imprisonment for murder of fruit vendor in Periamet in 2013

The XIX Additional Sessions Court here has convicted and sentenced six persons to life imprisonment for the murder of a fruit vendor in 2013 in Periamet, over a long-standing loan dispute.

The prosecution said A1, identified as B. Kala, 42, of Pammal, had borrowed ₹10 lakh from Velu, a fruit vendor, and failed to repay the amount. Following a fallout between the two over the unpaid loan, Kala planned to kill Velu.

On the night of May 29, 2013, at around 9.45 pm, four persons reportedly arrived at V.V. Koil Street, Choolai, on a two-wheeler and in a call taxi at the instigation of Kala, who identified Velu for them. The accused allegedly wrongfully restrained Velu, and hurled abuses at him.

Three of them were said to have assaulted Velu with knives, inflicting multiple injuries that resulted in his death. The prosecution further alleged that the accused threatened bystanders to prevent their intervention before fleeing the scene. Inspector of Police, Periamet, registered a case and arrested the accused, including Kala. The prosecution cited seven persons as accused in the chargesheet.

The trial was conducted by S. Dhanasekaran, Additional Public Prosecutor. Mr. Dhanasekaran submitted that the cumulative analysis of testimonies of prosecution witnesses would clearly reveal that the accused have committed the murder of deceased Velu at the instigation of A1 Kala. Therefore, he prayed for handing out conviction and deterrent punishment to the accused.

After convicting six of them for murder, the judge sentenced them to life imprisonment and also imposed fines on them.