HC acquits accused in Navarasu case

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, OCT. 5. The Madras High Court today acquitted A. John David, accused in the `Navarasu murder case', of all charges because ``there was no sufficient and satisfactory evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he had committed the offence.''

A Division Bench comprising Mr. Justice R. Balasubramanian and Mr. Justice V. Bhaktavatsalu said ``many crucial links are missing... and it is doubtful that the accused had locked the deceased in a room, assaulted him and that when he was unconscious severed the head and limbs, and parcelled the organs in two suitcases and threw the skull from an open terrace into a boat canal and carried the torso to Chennai.''

Holding that the evidence was circumstantial, the bench said the police were unable to substantiate the charges against John David.

John David, a senior student of the Raja Muthiah Medical College, Chidambaram, was accused of murdering Navarasu, son of the then Vice-Chancellor of the Madras University, Prof.P.K. Ponnuswamy, and I MBBS student, on November 6, 1996 at the Malligai Hostel. John David was sentenced to life by the Cuddalore Sessions Court.

There was no doubt that this was one of the brutal crimes committed in recent times, the bench observed. ``Though the offence was committed in a horrendous manner, it is hazardous to convict the accused on the basis of the evidence placed by the police.'' The trial court, without considering many vital aspects of the case and the improbabilities available in the evidence, convicted John David, it said.

``We are unable to agree with the reason assigned by the trial court while convicting the accused. Therefore, we hold that the accused is entitled to acquittal of all charges.''

Allowing John David's appeal, the bench set aside the conviction and the sentence. It ordered that he be released forthwith and that the fine amount, if any, paid be returned. Later, the public prosecutor, Mr. Gomathinayagam, who had been asked by the bench to assist the court, said the State Government would go on appeal.

Meanwhile, the Students Federation of India also urged the Government to go on appeal. In a statement, the SFI said Navarasu was a victim of the ``ragging'' culture. The High Court judgment was shocking, it added.

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