Direction to Sessions court

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court today directed the Sessions Court in Salem to complete trial in the Advocate Madanagopal murder case within six months.

Justice K N Basha gave the directive while dismissing two petitions from Mohamed Hassan and Iqbal Khan, who were involved in the daylight murder of the Advocate.

To expedite the trial in the case, the judge also directed that these two accused, who have been lodged in Central Prison, Bangalore, be transferred to Central Prison, Salem, till conclusion of the trial.

The advocate was shot dead on July 6, 2002 in Pondy Bazar here in the presence of his wife and daughter.

Petitioners contended that there was inordinate delay in the trial.Even the charges were not framed till date and they may be released on bail,they said.

The judge said merely because the petitioners were languishing in the prison for more than five years by itself would not entitle them to seek bail in view of the seriousness and gravity of the offence.

The judge observed that there was inordinate delay in conducting the trial. "It was unfortunate that in a serious case like this even the charges were not framed against the accused", the judge said and directed the Additional Sessions Court in Salem to conduct the trial on day-to-day basis and complete it within six months