Jet Santhosh murder: Noose for two, life term for five

 The additional Sessions Court, Thiruvananthapuram sentenced two persons of a criminal gang to death and five others to life imprisonment for brutally murdering their former gang-mate at Malayinkeezhu in 2004. 

 Additional Sessions Judge K P Indira awarded capital punishment to Anil Kumar alias Jacky Ani and Ajithkumar alias Ammakkorumakan Soju, both natives of Attukal in Thiruvananthapuram.  

Jet Santhosh was kidnapped and murdered by his former gangster friends over a suspected extra-marital affair with the wife of a group member 

Other convicts in the case, Binukumar alias Pravu Binu, Shaji alias Kochu Shaji, Suresh Kumar alias Sura, Biju alias Bijukuttan and C L Kishore received life term. The court acquitted Bobby and Usha, wife of fifth accused Suresh Kumar. 

The case pertains to kidnap and murder of  Santhosh Kumar alias Jet Santhosh on 22 November 2004. He was a  notorious gangster, suspected of several crimes in the capital city. The prosecution case was that the members of the rival gang took Santhosh to Malayinkeezhu and chopped off his right hand and right leg and left him in an autorickshaw to bleed till death. 

The murder was in revenge for a suspected extramarital affair between Santhosh and wife of one of the gang members. Santhosh, who was once a member of the gang, had quit the group before the incident took place and the desertion might have also ignited the rivalry, the prosecution stated. 

Though, during the trial, majority witnesses, including the mother of the victim and the barber of the salon, from where Santhosh was kidnapped, turned hostile, the prosecution was successful in proving the case with the help of circumstantial and scientific evidence. There were 12 accused in the charge sheet.  

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• Jet Santhosh murder