Kodanadu murder case: Accused move Madras HC, seek questioning of Palaniswami, Sasikala

Three accused in the Kodanadu murder case moved the Madras High Court, seeking direction to question former Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami and expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala.

Edappadi K Palaniswami, VK Sasikala

Three accused in the Kodanadu murder case have moved a criminal review petition in the Madras High Court, seeking direction to examine former Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala among others. The accused also urged the court to set aside a lower court order which dismissed their similar plea earlier.

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa used the Kodanadu estate property as a retreat. After her death in December 2016, the accused murdered a security guard, injured another and fled with valuables, including watches.

The accused — Deepan, Satheesan and Santhosh — said they had earlier filed a petition before a local court in The Nilgiris, under Section 233 (3) and 233 of CrPC, praying that they be permitted to examine Edappadi K Palaniswami, VK Sasikala and her relatives J Ilavarasi and V N Sudhakaran, former Nilgiris district collector Shankar, and former Nilgiris SP Murali Ramba. The accused claimed that only 41 of the 103 witnesses were examined.

The accused claimed that the investigation officer probed the case in a lethargic manner and left the culprits scot-free. The petition also mentioned that the investigation officer had intentionally left out to record the statements of material witnesses.

The petition claimed that the police acted in a biased manner and that the sessions judge acted as a mute spectator and rushing up the proceedings.

The three accused claimed that the Kodanadu estate was in control of Sasikala and Elavarasi and they would be able to provide information about the missing valuable items post the crime.

The Kodanadu murder case has already created a stir in the ongoing Tamil Nadu Assembly session. While the ruling DMK wants a discussion on the matter, the AIADMK denied it, saying the matter is sub-judice.