Summary: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court dismissed Balasubramanian's appeal against his involvement in a murder case under the SC/ST Act. The case involved a conspiracy and murder in Thoothukudi, and the court emphasized the need for a speedy trial.
On August 21, 2019, a man named P.K. Sivakumar was murdered near the District Court in Thoothukudi. The case was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Balasubramanian, along with 20 others, was accused of involvement.
While the case was ongoing, another murder occurred. On February 22, 2023, P.K. Muthukumar, a witness, was killed. This led to further charges against Balasubramanian and others for planning and committing murder, registered under Crime No. 48 of 2023.
Balasubramanian filed an appeal against the rejection of his request to be released from the case by the Special Court in Thoothukudi on January 12, 2026. His lawyer argued that the final report was filed late, beyond the 60-day period required by the SC/ST Act, without proper explanation.
"The delay in filing the final report was neither intentional nor deliberate," argued the Additional Public Prosecutor.
The court, led by Justice K.K. Ramakrishnan, noted that while there was a delay, it was due to the complexities of the case. The investigation involved multiple accused and witnesses, making it challenging to complete quickly.
The court referenced several Supreme Court decisions, emphasizing that just because something took longer than expected doesn't mean the case is invalid. It highlighted the importance of protecting vulnerable communities under the SC/ST Act.
The court dismissed the appeal, directing the trial to proceed quickly. It ordered the trial to be conducted on a day-to-day basis, urging all accused to cooperate.
"The trial should be completed within two months from today," directed Justice K.K. Ramakrishnan.
