SURENDHIRAN Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Criminal Appeal has been filed by the accused, challenging the conviction and sentence imposed upon him vide judgment dtd. 6/8/2021 in S.C.No.37 of 2019 on the file of the learned Sessions Judge, Fast Track Mahila Court, Krishnagiri.

(2.) It is the case of the prosecution that the deceased was the mother of the accused; that the husband of the deceased owned certain lands in Thellabenda village; that there was a litigation initiated by third parties claiming right over the said property after the death of the husband of the deceased; that the litigation ended successfully in favour of the deceased; that the deceased and the accused were not in cordial terms; that the accused came to know that the deceased intended to sell the land to one Tr.Vijayan [P.W.9] who was looking after the deceased; that enraged by that when the deceased along with the Revenue Officials and the said Tr.Vijayan [P.W.9] went to the land for measurement on 24/7/2018 at about 10.45 a.m., the accused attacked the deceased with the bill hook (koduval) on her right shoulder, right side neck and her back, as a result of which the deceased died at the scene of the occurrence.

(3.) The accused had originally filed an appeal through counsel. On 19/7/2023, a learned counsel representing the counsel on record represented before this Court that the counsel on record had handed over the case papers to the appellant. Therefore, by the order dtd. 18/10/2023, this Court had directed the Registry to send notice to the appellant. It is seen from the records that notice was received by the appellant, who is right now confined in the Central Prison Vellore on 27/11/2023, but he had not chosen to engage any counsel. Therefore, this Court appointed Mr.V.Perarasu, as Legal Aid Counsel on 13/12/2023 to appear on behalf of the appellant.