Bus burning case verdict on Feb 15

Salem, Feb 5 (UNI) The judgment in the Dharmapuri bus burning case, in which three girl students of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University were burnt to death in the aftermath of the conviction of AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa in a corruption case in February 2000, will be pronounced on February 15.

Salem First Class Additional Sessions Judge V Krishnaraja today reserved orders after the prosecution and the defence completed arguments marking completion of trial proceedings in the case.

After the prosecution clarified the doubts raised by the defence, the judge said he would pronounce the final verdict on February 15.

It may be recalled that in the wake of a special court in Chennai convicting Ms Jayalalithaa in the Kodaikanal Pleasant Stay Hotel case on February two, 2000, AIADMK workers commandeered the University bus in which the students were returning to Coimbatore after an educational tour, and set it ablaze. Three girls died on the spot.

Initially, the trial was held in a court in Krishnagiri. Following a Madras High court directive, it was shifted to the Sessions Court here and the retrial began on March 21, 2005.

Of the 31 accused, one died during trial. The remaining including the prime accused AIADMK Dharmapuri Union Secretary Muniayappan, appeared before the court.

In all 386 people were cited as prosecution witnesses.

As 20 of the 22 prosecution witnesses turned hostile, Veerasamy, the father of one of the deceased girls, Kokilavani, filed a petition seeking transfer of trial from Krishanagiri to a court in Salem.

Subsequently, Justice V Kanakaraj of Madras High Court on September 19, 2003, ordered a retrial and directed the First Additional Sessions Judge, Salem to take it up.

UNI