HC rejects bail to accused in honour killing case

The Madras High Court today refused bail to an accused in the brutal murder of a Dalit youth at a bus stand in full public view in a suspected honour killing case in Tirupur district in March this year.
Dismissing the bail plea of V Prasanna Kumar, accused no.10 in the case, Justice S Vaidyanathan said that "taking note of the fact that charge sheet has been filed and preliminary investigation is over and considering the facts and circumstances of the case, I find no reason to grant the relief sought by the petitioner."
The judge further said that "it is very unfortunate that the alleged occurrence has taken place as 'honour killing'. Admittedly, the accused had aimed to kill the couple and Kausalya survived the March 13 attack.

Release of the petitioner and other accused would certainly endanger the life of Kausalya who is under police protection, he said noting that an earlier bail application of Kumar had also been dismissed.
According to prosecution, Kausalya, a caste Hindu, and Shankar, a Dalit, got married despite opposition from her family. Upset over this, the family members of Kausalya hired henchmen to murder both Shankar and Kausalya.
The petitioner had also been part of hatching the criminal conspiracy to murder them along with other accused and he had identified the couple to the henchmen prior to the brutal attack. He was present at the scene.

Kausalya, who attempted to protect her husband, escaped with grievous injuries.
The petitioner was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on March 18 last.