A CBI court on Friday awarded double life imprisonment to 10 people, while four others, including former Uduma MLA and senior CPI (M) leader KV Kunhiraman, were sentenced to five years in prison.
Published Jan 03, 2025 | 8:32 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 03, 2025 | 8:32 PM
For Uduma MLA and senior CPI (M) leader KV Kunhiraman is among those sentenced. He was sentenced to five years in prison. (Wikimedia Commons)
Nearly six years after the murders of Youth Congress workers Kripesh and Sarath Lal shocked Kerala, the Periya double murder case continues to haunt the state’s political landscape.
A CBI Special Court on Friday, 3 January, sentencing 14 individuals, including senior CPI (M) leaders, has rekindled sharp political rivalries, public outrage, and demands for justice.
While the convictions are seen as a significant milestone, the case remains a volatile flashpoint, with the Congress and CPI (M) locking horns over its political and moral implications.
The CBI Special Court in Kochi found 14 persons guilty and acquitted 10 others on December 28.
Among those sentenced on Friday,10 were awarded double life imprisonment for murder and conspiracy, while four others, including former Uduma MLA and senior CPI (M) leader KV Kunhiraman, were sentenced to five years in prison for obstructing the lawful apprehension of the accused.
At the same time, the CBI prosecutor Bobby Joseph Y clarified to the media that though the court gave a double life sentence, it is not relevant as the accused have to face only one life imprisonment.
Later, a media release from the CBI stated that the IV Additional Sessions Court, Ernakulam (Special Court-II, CBI, Ernakulam) has sentenced 10 accused persons to undergo life imprisonment and four other accused to undergo imprisonment of five years with a total fine of ₹21,40,000.
The trial, which began in February 2023, examined 154 witnesses, 495 documents, and 83 material objects to establish the chain of events that led to the murders of Kripesh and Sarath Lal, allegedly due to political enmity.
Special Judge N Seshadrinathan sentenced Peethambaran, Saji George, Suresh, Anilkumar, Jijin, Sreerag, Aswin, Sudheesh, Renjith, and Surendran to double life imprisonment for murder and criminal conspiracy.
They were also found guilty of unlawful assembly, rioting, and wrongful restraint, with each fined ₹2 lakh. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently.
Kunhiraman, Manikandan, Velutholi Raghavan, and AV Bhaskaran were given five years of imprisonment for obstructing the investigation, in addition to being fined ₹10,000 each.
The court observed that the prosecution had successfully established the motive, conspiracy, and the role of the accused in executing the murders.
Citing a Supreme Court observation, the judge lamented the role of political parties in fostering violence among grassroots workers, even as their top leaders maintain cordial relations.
The court termed the killings an “offshoot of political vandalism,” emphasising the devastating impact on the victims’ families.
The case, originally registered at Bekkal Police Station in Kasaragod, was transferred to the CBI in October 2019, following a Kerala High Court directive.
According to the investigation, the prime accused, Peethambaran A, and seven others conspired to murder the duo due to political rivalry.
On February 17, 2019, the accused, armed with deadly weapons, ambushed Kripesh and Sarathlal at Periya village, inflicting fatal injuries.
The CBI completed its investigation and filed the chargesheet on 3 December 2021.
The verdict has reignited political tensions, with opposition leaders, the victims’ families, and the CPI (M) offering divergent perspectives.
KK Rama, MLA and wife of slain Revolutionary Marxist Party leader TP Chandrasekharan questioned whether the CPI (M) is prepared to end its alleged legacy of political violence.
While she welcomed the verdict, she pointed out that it did not fully satisfy the victims’ families, who had hoped for harsher penalties.
Rama also criticized the CPI (M) for spending ₹1.15 crore of public money to block a CBI investigation, asserting it reflected attempts to shield the guilty.
Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan termed the verdict a “setback to CPI (M)’s murderous politics” and alleged that the party operates like a “terrorist organization” by protecting those involved in violent acts.
Satheesan expressed partial satisfaction with the double life imprisonment sentences but noted the families had expected death penalties for the brutality of the murders. He accused the government of misusing public funds to defend the accused and called on the CPI (M) to repay the money.
KPCC president K Sudhakaran echoed similar sentiments, calling the verdict a warning to the CPI (M)’s violent politics.
While expressing satisfaction over the convictions, he vowed that Congress would continue its legal battle to ensure justice for the victims, including seeking harsher sentences for the convicts and holding those acquitted accountable.
At the same time, Congress Working Committee member Ramesh Chennithala demanded harsher punishment and criticized the CPI(M), holding its district leadership responsible for the conspiracy and urging the party to end its “murderous politics.”
He announced Congress’s support for the victims’ families to appeal for stricter sentences and challenge the acquittal of ten accused.
“This verdict is a setback for the CPI(M)’s violent politics,” he said, condemning the party’s use of public funds to oppose a CBI investigation.
Chennithala also called on CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan to direct party cadres to abandon violent practices, particularly in the Malabar region, and adapt to democratic values.
Govindan reiterated that the party had no role in the murders, dismissing allegations of political conspiracy as baseless.
While acknowledging the involvement of some party workers and leaders, Govindan asserted that their actions were not directed by the party.
He criticised the CBI for attempting to frame the case as politically motivated and confirmed that the CPI (M) would appeal the verdict in higher courts.
Despite the verdict, the Periya double murder case is far from reaching closure.
Both the Congress and CPI (M) have announced plans to pursue legal action, ensuring that the case remains a contentious issue in Kerala’s political landscape.
The families of the victims, too, are preparing to appeal for harsher punishments, underscoring their dissatisfaction with the current sentences.
“We expected a death sentence for at least a few of the accused. Still, we are happy that double life imprisonment was given to 10 convicts. We will take up the next legal steps in consultation with the Congress party,” Kripesh’s father V Krishnan told reporters outside the court.
The verdict may have brought some sense of closure to the victims’ families, but the sharp political reactions and plans for appeals from both Congress and the CPI (M) indicate that the case is far from over – both legally and politically.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
