Kochi: Former Kerala Inspector General of Police K Lakshmana has been sentenced to life for killing Naxal leader A Varghese way back in 1970. Lakshmana was sentenced to life in Kochi on Thursday by CBI Special court judge B Vijayakumar. A fine of Rs 10,000 has also been imposed on Lakshmana.
The Former Kerala IGP was convicted in the 40-year-old murder case on Wednesday with the judge pronouncing the judgement that late CRPF constable P Ramachandran Nair had committed the act of murder on the command of Lakshmana, who was the then a DYSP.
"It is good that convicts have been given sentence. More important that the judgement has come after 40 years. The witnesses were important. Three tribal witnesses from Tirunelveli were important. They saw Varghese being taken away by the police," said prosecution lawyer Vaikom Purushottaman.
Varghese's brother Thomas sounded happy with the verdict.
"We are happy on the quantum of sentence. The family and the party had to fight a prolonged battle to get justice," he said.
However, former DGP P Vijayan was acquitted with the judge giving him the benefit of doubt.
Varghese was gunned downed by police in cold blood in the Thiruvenlli forests in Kerala's Wayanad district on February 18, 1970 and it was described as 'encounter' death.
The judge convicted Lakshmana of the offence under under Section 302 with Section 34 of IPC.
Lakshmana and Vijayan, who came in a wheel chair, were present in the court.
The case received wide media attention a few years ago after Ramachandran Nair confessed in 1998 that he had shot Varghese at the behest of his superior officers Vijayan and Lakshamana.
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