Madras High Court Transfers Murder Trial Against DMK MP TRVS Ramesh From Cuddalore To Chengalpattu

The Madras High Court on Thursday transferred the trial in a murder case against DMK MP TRVS Ramesh from Principal District and Sessions Court in Cuddalore to Chengalpattu.

Justice Anand Venkatesh passed the order on a plea moved by Senthilvel, son of the deceased Govindarasu. Though Senthilvel had raised various allegations against the MP and other co-accused, the court observed that it was transferring the case not on the basis of the allegations, but considering that a fair trial would not be possible in Cuddalore district where the accused is a sitting MP.

The court also directed the trial to be completed within a period of six months.

Govindarasu, who was working in a cashew factory owned by Ramesh, died under suspicious circumstances after being accused of theft. His son alleged that there were bruise marks on his body and registered a complaint against the MP and his associates. 

The family then approached the District Collector's office seeking for transferring the investigation to the CB-CID and had also approached the High Court in this regard. Following this, the investigation was transferred to the CB-CID which, after inquiry, altered the charges from suspicious death to that of murder.

Though Ramesh was initially not arrested, he later surrendered before the court and was sent to judicial custody. In November 2021, he was granted conditional bail by the Madras High Court. 

Case Title: Senthilvel v. Inspector of Police

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Mad) 204

Case No: Crl OP 1844 of 2023