SC verdict thrills investigation officer despite long trial

Deivasikhamani was the inspector attached to the Velachery police station then. He retired as Deputy Superintendent of Police and is now working for a private firm.

“Despite the long trial, the Supreme Court judgment gives me joy. This has shown that justice will triumph despite any kind of obstruction. In this case, the accused was a well-known hotelier. Everyone had one question: He was such a pious man and how can he commit a such a crime?” recalled the investigating officer.

The officer said that the investigation faced several challenges as such a big businessman was involved in the murder.

At the time of the kidnap and murder of Prince Santhakumar,K Muthukaruppan was the Chennai Police Commissioner.J K Tripathy was joint commissioner and KP Shanmugha Rajesekaran was Deputy Commissioner while Ramchandran was Assistant Commissioner.

“All of them were very supportive,” recalled Deivasikhamani. When the trail was going on at Poonamalee court, K Vijaya Kumar, was the city police chief and he was a great help and support for the case.”

All witnesses cooperated during the trial and that is why the accused was convicted for 10 years, he said. “Though we thought the suspects would get a life sentence, the prosecution pushed for maximum punishment and that is why the High Court was approached. The defence had also appealed the High Court. The Madras High Court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment. Though I am retired now, I am happy to note that SC has finally taken a good decision in the case handled by me,” Deivasikhamani said.