Prime accused in murder of Dalit boy Gokulraj, walks out of jail to a hero’s welcome

After spending six months in prison, Yuvaraj, the prime accused in the murder of Dalit youth Gokulraj, walked out from the Vellore Central Prison on Tuesday. The Madras High Court had granted conditional bail to Yuvaraj last week.

The 34-year-old leader of the caste outfit, Dheeran Chinnamalai Gounder Peravai received a hero’s welcome from his supporters who had come out in large numbers to the Vellore Central Prison.  Waving his hands and sporting a wide smile, Yuvaraj walked out of jail to firecrackers being burst and loud cheers and cries from members of his caste outfit. They garlanded the murder accused and lifted him upon their shoulders, as the waiting media clicked pictures and beamed his image live for Tamil Nadu to see.

Talking to reporters outside the prison, he said, “I have evidence to prove that the case is suicide and not murder. Be it Hindus, Muslims or Christians the common temple for all of them is the court and the common God for everyone is the judge. I have full faith in him, and I will bring out the truth through the court. I will also prove that DSP Vishnupriya's death is a planned murder. Those two people who are guilty will be punished.”

Yuvaraj is accused of murdering Gokulraj, a 21-year-old Dalit boy for talking to a girl from the Gounder community at a Tiruchengode temple. Gokulraj’s body was found on the railway tracks near Erode.  

While Yuvaraj went into hiding, there was another twist in the case when DSP Vishnupriya, who was probing the murder, committed suicide last September. Although in her suicide note, she said she was taking the extreme step for personal reasons, Yuvaraj released audio messages claiming foul play in her death.

When Yuvaraj finally surrendered before the CB-CID in Namakkal last October, he received a similar reception from his supporters. Before surrendering in style, three police teams had been looking out for him but had failed to nab him for three months.

Speaking to The News Minute following news of his bail, Gokulraj’s mother had said, “They have let loose my son’s killer. Power, money, that’s what runs the show here. Is this the value of a life? Is our caste greater than a life?”