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Soumya murder: AG Mukul Rohatgi to appear for Kerala in SC

  • Kerala will file a review petition in the Soumya murder case in SC. 
  • The SC had cancelled the death sentence awarded to the accused in the case. 
  • The SC verdict had evoked strong resentment across Kerala. 
AG to appear for Kerala in Soumya murder




 Kerala government has roped in Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi to present its argument in the review petition to be filed in the Soumya murder case. The petition to review the Supreme Court (SC) judgement commuting the capital punishment awarded to the accused in the rape and murder case will be filed this week. 


Also read: Soumya murder: Govindachami escapes noose



The decision to move the review petition was finalised after Kerala Law Minister AK Balan held discussions with the AG at New Delhi on Sunday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also spoke to Rohatgi over the phone. 

 

Speaking to media persons after meeting AG, said that Rohatgi promised to put in all efforts to ensure maximum penalty to the accused Govindachami in the case and to ensure that charges under Section 302 of the IPC are imposed. 

 

Last week, the SC commuted the capital punishment awarded to Govindachami giving him the benefit of the doubt. The prosecution could not prove beyond doubt that the murder was committed by the accused, it had noted. 

 

Also read: Soumya murder: Kerala Govt. under fire for 'criminal lapse'

 

The verdict came as a big shock to the government and a rude embarrassment for the prosecution. The opposition trained guns on the ruling Left government in Kerala and organised public protests across the state. The Chief Minister termed the verdict as shocking and promised to file a review petition before the SC at the earliest. 
 

Also read: SC Verdict shocking; will file review petition in Soumya murder: Kerala CM
 

Soumya, 23, a sales girl from Thrissur, was found in the thickets near a railway track at Shoranur with grievous injuries on her head and wounds of brutal sexual assault all over her body on 1 February 2011. Govindachami, 33, a physically challenged beggar, allegedly threw her off from the lady’s compartment of the train during a robbery attempt and raped her on the track. The victim succumbed to her injuries five days later.  The police arrested Govindachami, a single-handed vagabond in connection with the incident. The murder triggered an outrage and raised serious safety concerns of female passengers in trains. 

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