Three convicted in Aladi Aruna murder case; Sentence tomorrow

Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, Apr 16 (UNI) A local court today convicted three people in the sensational murder of former Tamil Nadu minister and senior DMK leader Aladi Aruna R Ponraj in 2004, and acquitted six others, including Raja Group of Educational Institutions Chairman S A Raja.

Delivering the verdict in a packed court hall here, Principal Sessions Judge K Bhaskaran acquitted Mr Raja and five others on the ground that the charges against them were not proved beyond doubt.

He convicted D Azhagar alias 'Valarntha' Azhagar (34) and P Balamurugan (32) for conspiracy to murder and M Veldurai (40) under the Arms Act.

The Judge said the sentences would be pronounced tomorrow.

According to the prosecution, Mr Aruna and Ponraj were brutally murdered by a gang on December 31, 2004, at Nallur village near Alangulam in the district over previous enmity.

Mr Aruna was a Member of Parliament of AIADMK in 1984 and had served as the law minister during the DMK regime in 1996.

In all, the prosecution had produced 97 documents and materials in the court as evidence and 52 witnesses were examined.

The police had made tight security arrangements in view of the judgment. Armed police personnel were posted in and around the court complex. Personnel of the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad conducted anti-sabotage checks in the court complex prior to the verdict.

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