The Supreme Court on Wednesday confirmed the double life sentence awarded to six Al-Umma activists convicted in the murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary Dr. P.V. Sridhar in Tiruchi on February 2, 1999.
According to a press release issued by the Crime Branch CID of the Tamil Nadu police, Dr. Sridhar, town president of Bharatiya Janata Party was hacked to death by gang of fundamentalists near his house in Tiruchi when he was returning from his clinic.
During the course of investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), it came to light that the offence was committed by 14 hardcore fundamentalist belonging to Al-Umma.
The accused were arrested and the case was charge-sheeted on March 1, 2000.
A fast track court in Tiruchi awarded double life sentence to Zahir Hussain, Moosa alias TADA Moosa, Siddiq Ali, Rahamathullah Khan, Sheik Zindha Madhar and Umar Farook and life imprisonment to Shajakhan.
On appeal by the convicted persons, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court confirmed the sentence. The convicts filed special leave petitions before the Supreme Court. On Wednesday, the apex court upheld the conviction and confirmed double life sentenced awarded to the six persons. The seventh accused Shajakhan was acquitted.
They were convicted in the murder of BJP functionary in Tiruchi in 1999
