| Date | July 7, 2003 |
|---|---|
| Location | Puthukkooraippettai village,Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Type | Murder, Honor killing |
| Cause | Inter-caste marriage |
| Convicted | Maruthupandian, C Duraisamy, 8 others |
| Convictions | Murder |
| Sentence | Life imprisonment |
The murder of Kannagi and Murugesan took place in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Kannagi and Murugesan were murdered in an honor killing as Kannagi, a Vanniyar, had married Murugesan, a Dalit. The killing was done by Kannagi's relatives.[1][2][3][4][5]
Background[edit | edit source]
Kannagi and Murugesan both hailed from the Puthukkooraippettai village in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu. Kannagi had done her B.com and Murugesan was a chemical engineer. Kannagi came from the dominant Vanniyar community while Murugesan belonged to the Dalit community. Kannagi and Murugesan got married on May 5, 2003, against the wishes of Kannagi's parents. [1]
Murder[edit | edit source]
Kannagi and Murugesan were forced to drink poison in full public view on July 7, 2003, by Kannagi's brother Maruthupandian and other relatives. Later the bodies were burnt.[1][6][7]Madras High court transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation on appeal from Murugesan's father after the state police botched the case.[8]
Court proceedings[edit | edit source]
Cuddalore special court sentenced Maruthupandian to death and sentenced life imprisonment to 12 others including a serving inspector and a retired DSP.[9] Later on appeal the Madras High court commuted the death sentence of Maruthupandian to life imprisonment and upheld the convictions and sentences 9 others including Kannagi's father C Duraisamy .[10][11]
The Supreme Court of India on 28 April 2025 confirmed the convictions in the Kannagi-Murugesan honour killing case from Tamil Nadu.
A bench comprising Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice PK Mishra dismissed the appeals filed by eight convicts challenging the Madras High Court's 2022 judgment, which upheld the sentences of life imprisonment awarded to them.[12][13]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Kannagi-Murugesan case: Death sentence commuted by Madras High Court". The New Indian Express. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ↑ "HC commutes death sentence of Kannagi-Murugesan honour killing convict". The Hindu. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ↑ Rajasekaran, Ilangovan (8 June 2022). "Two-member bench of the Madras High Court commutes death sentence to life in 2003 Murugesan-Kannagi honour killing case". Frontline. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ↑ Tamilarasu, Prabhakar (8 June 2022). "Kannagi-Murugesan caste killing case: HC commutes death sentence of girl's brother". The Federal News. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ↑ Sundaram, Ram (17 October 2021). "Tamil Nadu double murder case: Weeks after verdict, gang assaults mom of caste killing victim". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ↑ "Tamil Nadu honour killing: Death sentence of woman victim's brother commuted to life". The Indian Express. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ↑ "முருகேசன் ஆணவக் கொலை வழக்கில் தீர்ப்பு: ஒருவருக்கு தூக்கு, 12 பேருக்கு ஆயுள் தண்டனை". BBC News தமிழ் (in தமிழ்). 24 September 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ↑ Nath, Akshaya (25 September 2021). "Tamil Nadu court announces death sentence to main accused in 18-yr-old honour killing case". India Today. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ↑ "Tamil Nadu: Court Convicts 13 in 2003 Cuddalore Caste Killing Case". The Wire. 29 June 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ↑ "Hc Commutes Death Penalty In Caste Murder Case; Confirms Life For Nine". The Times of India. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ↑ "முருகேசன் ஆணவக் கொலை வழக்கு: தூக்கு தண்டனை ஆயுளாக குறைப்பு". BBC News தமிழ் (in தமிழ்). 8 June 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ↑ The Hindu Bureau (28 April 2025). "Supreme Court dismisses convicts' appeals in Kannagi-Murugesan honour killings case". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ↑ "Supreme Court Upholds Convictions In Kannagi-Murugesan Honour Killing Case Of Tamil Nadu". Live Law. 28 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.