A special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, has handed down a double death sentence to a man convicted of the heinous sexual assault and murder of a 17-year-old schoolgirl. The swift verdict, delivered within 75 days of the accused’s arrest, has brought a measure of closure to a case that had ignited widespread public outrage across the state.
The court found the accused, identified as M. Dharma Muniswaram, alias Maveeran, guilty on two separate counts, awarding the death penalty for each charge. This severe sentence underscores the gravity of the crimes committed against the Class 12 student, who had gone missing from near her home in Vilathikulam on March 10. Her body was discovered the following day in a scrub forest area, bearing visible injuries, prompting immediate protests from her family and local residents who alleged delays in police action.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the case initially faced jurisdictional challenges between police stations, which reportedly contributed to a delay in the formal registration of a complaint. However, a special investigation team was eventually formed, successfully cracking the case by identifying a motorcycle seen near the crime scene through a photograph taken by a local resident. The accused was apprehended on March 20.
Police officials revealed that Dharma Muniswaran has a significant criminal history. He was previously convicted in a rape-and-murder case in 2020 and was reportedly out on bail at the time of this latest offense. During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to targeting women in isolated areas and committing the crime after the victim encountered him in the forest. Investigators stated that he attempted to flee the scene after the assault.
The swift legal process saw all hearings, witness testimonies, and evidence submissions completed within the Thoothukudi District Special POCSO Court. The Tamil Nadu police successfully proved the charges with solid evidence, demonstrating that while out on bail for a previous conviction, the man targeted the schoolgirl and committed this crime. The Madras High Court had previously taken a strong stance on the matter, directing the trial court to expedite proceedings and ordering the Tamil Nadu government to pay an additional interim compensation of ₹10 lakh to the victim’s family, on top of the ₹5 lakh already disbursed. The court also stressed the importance of disciplinary action against police personnel found to have delayed the registration of the First Information Report (FIR).
In a related development, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had also cancelled the bail granted to Dharmamuneeswaran in another similar case, citing his involvement in the Vilathikulam student’s murder. The court withdrew a previous order that had suspended his life sentence pending appeal in a 2022 case, noting that the accused had allegedly misused the liberty granted by the court by committing the current heinous crime. The investigation in that case had also been completed, the State informed the court.
The case has drawn national attention, highlighting concerns about the protection of children and the prompt delivery of justice in such egregious crimes. The court’s stringent verdict reflects the societal demand for accountability and serves as a stark warning against perpetrators of such offenses.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
