Azhagiri, City Dy Mayor appear in Court

Madurai, Jan 8 (UNI) M K Azhagiri, son of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and prime accused in the case relating to the murder of former Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader Tha Kiruttinan, appeared before the trial court here today.

City Deputy Mayor P M Mannan and 11 others, mostly DMK functionaries, along with Mr Azhagiri, also appeared before the III Additional Sessions judge Teeka Raman.

The judge posted further hearing in the case to January 12.

When the hearing resumed, counsel for one of the accused, Muthuramalingam, pleaded for staying the trial since the matter was currently before the Supreme Court.

After a perusal of the documents produced before him in this regard, the judge adjourned the matter to January 12.

Kiruttinan, a DMK stalwart, was murdered in front of his posh K K Nagar residence on May 20, 2003 in the midst of the party's organisational elections. Azhagiri was charged with instigating the murder due to internal feud in the party.

UNI