The Kollam principal sessions court on Wednesday sentenced Aadu Antony, the accused in the murder of policeman Maniyan Pillai, to life imprisonment.
Maniyan Pillai was killed in June 2012 in Paripally in Kollam district. Aadu Antony also attacked SI Joy, who was accompanying Pillai. The duo was conducting vehicle inspection when the incident happened.
According to reports, the court also sentenced him to five years imprisonment for other offences, along with a total fine of Rs.4.45 lakh. It is reported that Antony will serve the sentence concurrently.
He was charged under section 302 (murder), section 307 (attempt to murder), Section 333 (voluntarily causing hurt to public servant), section 468 and 471 (forging of documents) of the Indian Penal Code.
Antony Varghese alias Aadu Antony, who started his career as a thief stealing goats or 'Aadu', he later shifted focus to electronic goods.
Responding to media, an investigation officer told reporters that the police department’s and the public’s combined efforts at nabbing Antony had finally paid off. "From police constables to the DGP, we have all worked together to ensure that Antony was given maximum punishment. The Facebook page ‘Justice for Maniyan Pillai’ started by the Kollam police also contributed in spreading word,” he said.
Meanwhile, claiming that the police were taking preventive measures in view of the journalist-lawyers feud in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, reporters were not let inside the court premises.
The lawyers had informed the judge that reporters who turn up to cover the case would be prevented from doing so.