The Sessions Court here has notified the hearing on the fatal acid attack case on a young girl here for April 22. The Sessions Court, within hours of receiving the orders from the Chief Judge-Puducherry committing it to hear the case, has posted the opening of prosecution for the following Monday. The incident that occurred in November last, snuffed out the life of a 23-year-old Vinodhini, after a three-month vain battle in a Chennai hospital in February. The accused, a spurned pursuer, who had hurled acid at her, was arrested and remanded within 24 hours of committing the crime.
Speaking to The Hindu , Additional Public Prosecutor R. Vetriselvan said that considering the gravity of the crime, the police and the prosecution had made a strong case for an early hearing and commencement of trial.
“Normally, it takes not less than two months. However, here the numbering and committing of the case has come within a week of furnishing the dossiers to the Chief Judge,” Mr. Vetriselvan said.
The additional charge sheet revising the charges to murder was filed in less than a month of the girl’s death. The police had written to the authorities concerned seeking an early trial. The incident had evoked calls for setting up special court to hear the case in a bid for speedy trial.
According to the Additional Public Prosecutor, a special court was a matter of policy that would have to be taken by the Puducherry government.
