Kottayam: The first accused in the Vithura torture case has been sentenced to 24 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. He has been sentenced to 24 years of rigorous imprisonment in various cases, but only to serve 10 years together. Kottayam Special Court Judge Johnson John convicted the first accused Kollam Jubaira Manzil Suresh (Shamsuddin Mohammad Shahjahan-52). “I have a wife and a minor daughter and they will be orphans,” Suresh said. Defendant requested that a child protection institution in Tambaram, Tamil Nadu, be financially supported and that the sentence be commuted.
According to the prosecution, the minor was abducted, tortured and handed over to several people. The court found the girl guilty of keeping the girl in custody for more than 10 days, allowing others to torture her and running a center that facilitates this.
It is alleged that Ajitha Begum, a distant relative, took the minor girl out of the house on November 21, 1995 and handed her over to the first accused Suresh and tortured her for 9 months inside and outside Kerala till July 1996. Ajitha Begum died in a road accident during the investigation.
On July 16, the girl was arrested by the Ernakulam Central Police along with Sunny, who was involved in the case. The suspects, who were produced in court and remanded in custody, had given a statement to the Central Police after being released on bail on the 23rd. There were a total of 24 cases. During the two-phase trial, 36 accused were acquitted and released. Police were unable to arrest Suresh, the first accused in the case, during the investigation and trial. Suresh, the first accused in the case, surrendered after 18 years.
The girl identified Suresh and testified against the accused. With this, Suresh faced trial in the third phase. Suresh is the first accused in 24 cases. The verdict was handed down by Special Court Judge Johnson John. Rajagopal Padippura appeared for the prosecution.
English Summary: Vithura Rape Case – Suresh gets 24 years imprisonment
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