Quick Summary: The Madras High Court confirmed a life sentence for Perumal, who was found guilty of setting his partner on fire in Vellore. Despite his appeal, the court upheld the decision, relying heavily on a dying statement from the victim.
On November 23, 2012, a tragic event occurred in Vellore. Perumal, a truck driver, was living with his partner, who had previously been married to someone else. On that fateful night, Perumal allegedly took his partner from her mother's house and later returned to report that she had set herself on fire. However, the victim accused Perumal of setting her on fire after an argument.
The case was initially registered under the charge of attempted murder, but after the victim died on November 24, 2012, it was changed to murder. The trial took place in the Fast Track Women's Court in Vellore, where Perumal was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison on February 8, 2019.
During the trial, 13 witnesses were questioned. The victim's family spoke about the events leading up to her death. A crucial piece of evidence was the dying statement recorded by a court official, which stated that Perumal set her on fire. Medical reports confirmed she had severe burn injuries.
"The dying statement clearly shows that the accused is the one who set fire on the deceased." - Court Judgment
Perumal appealed the conviction, arguing that there were no eyewitnesses and questioning the reliability of the dying statement. However, the judges, Mr. Justice P. Velmurugan and Mr. Justice M. Jothiraman, found the evidence consistent and believable. They upheld the original sentence, dismissing the appeal on January 29, 2026.
The court confirmed Perumal's life sentence based on strong evidence, including the victim's dying statement, which proved his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
