Six years after former DMK MLA Rajkumar and two his associates were accused of the rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl from Kerala, a special court in Chennai which handles cases involving MPs and MLAs, has declared him guilty of all charges. The former MLA has been awarded an imprisonment of 10 years and fined Rs 42,000.
In 2012, Rajkumar who represented the Perambalur constituency, his driver Mahendran and associate Jayashankar were arrested under IPC sections 376 (rape), 367 (a)(kidnap) and 302 (murder) based on a complaint filed by the victim's father. According to reports, the young girl hailed from Peermedu in Idukki district of Kerala bordering Theni and was employed in the then MLA's house as a domestic help in June that year. She was allegedly brought under the false promise of free education.
Within five days of her arrival in Tamil Nadu, she called her father pleading that he take her back. On June 28, however her father was informed that she was unwell and was admitted to a hospital in Theni District. When her mother came to check on her, she found that her daughter was unconscious. She later died at the government hospital, unresponsive to treatment.
The Perambalur police reportedly registered a case of attempted suicide but the girl's relatives noticed that there were injuries on her body and reported the matter to Peermedu CMP MLA Bijumol. An autopsy conducted by the Kottayam Government Hospital revealed that she had been raped. Following this, a case was filed with the Peermedu police who forwarded to the Perambalur police.
On Friday, the former MLA was finally convicted for his crimes in the Special Court. Judge Shanthi who was hearing the case, stated that Rajkumar was guilty of rape, murder and conspiracy while Jayashankar was convicted for conspiracy and fraud. Both of them were awarded 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 42,000. The driver who was accused was acquitted as the police failed to prove and charges against him.