The Madras High Court bench here has directed a trial court in Dindigul to complete the trial and deliver its verdict in a murder case within four weeks.
Justice R. Mala issued the directions to the Fast Track Court, while disposing the bail petition filed by F. Vivek, one of the accused in the kidnap and murder case of M. Bhaskaran on April 30, 2009.
According to the prosecution, Mr Bhaskaran, a 71-year-old doctor based in Dindigul, was kidnapped and murdered by a nine-member gang.
The petitioner Vivek is the ninth accused in the case and was arrested on August 22, 2009 by a special team constituted by the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID). Vivek had issued a confessional statement to the police admitting his role in the murder, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), CBCID, told the court in a counter affidavit.
“The trial court had denied bail to the petitioner on two occasions. The murderers were nabbed by a special team after much hardship. The trial is going to end and the verdict is likely to be pronounced soon. Therefore, Vivek should not be granted bail”, the DSP contended.
The petitioner’s counsel claimed that Vivek was imprisoned for nearly 1400 days. There was no witness to his role in the murder and the only evidence the prosecution had was the confessional statement of the petitioner, he contended.
Disposing the case, Justice R. Mala declined bail for Vivek but directed the Fast Track Court to complete the trial and pronounce its judgement within four weeks.
