A Mahila special court issued a death sentence to Satish, a stalker who killed a college student, Sathya Priya, by pushing her in front of a moving train at Chennai’s St Thomas Mount station in October 2022.
After considering video evidence and the testimonies of 70 eyewitnesses, Satish was convicted by the special court under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 302 (murder) and Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act (1998) on December 28.
Delivering the sentencing on Monday, December 30, the court also levied a fine of Rs 25,000 on Satish. He was also sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act and levied a fine of Rs 10,000.
On October 13, 2022, twenty-year-old Sathya Priya was waiting for a train at St Thomas Mount station when Satish, her neighbour and stalker, approached her and engaged in a tussle. Eyewitnesses told TNM that Satish pushed her onto the tracks as an electric train was entering the station and escaped before anyone could stop him. Sathya Priya died on the spot.
The probe was handed over to the CB-CID (Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department) on orders of the then Director General of Police (DGP) Sylendra Babu in October 2022.
Satish was found in Thoraipakkam and taken to Mambalam police station for further inquiry on October 14, 2022.
Sathya Priya’s father Manickam had suffered a heart attack after hearing about her death. He was admitted to a hospital, where he died on October 14, 2022.
Before the murder in October, Sathya Priya’s mother had filed two complaints against Satish for stalking and harassing her. The first complaint was filed at the Mambalam police station against Satish for getting into an argument with Sathya on May 20, 2022. The Mambalam police registered a First Information Report (FIR) and booked Satish under Section 75 of the Tamil Nadu City Police Act, 1888 (indecent behaviour in public place). He received station bail and was let out the same day. He was not booked for harassment or stalking.
Two days later, Sathya’s mother filed another complaint at the St Thomas Mount police station. TNM had earlier reported that both Satish’s and Sathya’s families were asked to appear for an inquiry. However, a ‘compromise’ was reached, and no FIR was filed. Sathya’s mother was also made to give a declaration that she did not want to proceed with the complaint anymore.
It may be noted that Satish’s father had retired as a Special Sub Inspector (SSI) at the Aadambakkam police station in Chennai, while Sathya’s mother, Ramalakshmi, had then been the head constable at the same station in 2022. Both their families were residing at the police quarters in Alandur.