Published: 25th April 2015VELLORE: Very few among the legal fraternity here would have forgotten April 10, 2012 when scythes wielding goons chased and attacked their rival gang member at the District Combined Court Complex. But on Thursday, all the five accused in the case were acquitted after the victim and the witnesses turned hostile fearing for their lives.
Notorious rowdy Vasur Raja (alias) Raja of Pudu Vasur (28) and his associates attacked Jagan (alias) Jaggannathan (26) of his rival gang led by ‘Speed’ Maha (alias) Mahalingam. The terrifying incident unfolded within 10 minutes of the court proceedings commencing on that day. Jagan, who had come along with Maha and his gang members to appear before the court in the then CMC PRO John Segar’s murder case, stepped out of the court only to be met with
Raja and his gang members Udhaya (then 27), Sathiya (27) of Vellore Old Town, Basha (27) and Nashiya Abbash (28) of Konavattam. They, in fact, were waiting near the court premises to eliminate the entire rival gang. But to their dismay, only Jagan walked out. On spotting him, they scaled the wall of the court and unleashed their deadly attack.
However, the agile Jagan, though got wounded, managed to escape from Vasur Raja and his gang and saved himself by hiding inside the District Lawyers’ Association office on the ground floor of the court. The gang searched for him for nearly 20 minutes and left the building before fleeing the spot in a SUV.
An advocate sustained injury in the incident. “Jagan sustained deep cut injuries on his left leg, thigh and forehead,” said a police officer, citing the charge sheet.
The incident sent a shock wave among advocates across the State and resulted in a series of protests and court boycotts demanding security in the court premises. Following the incident, a strong contingent of armed police personnel were deployed in the court campus. Similarly, security arrangements were beefed up in other district courts of the State. Vasur Raja and his aid surrendered before the court the very next day. Sathuvachari Police registered a case under sections under 147, 148, 341, 294 (b) and 307 of the IPC.
Though hundreds of court staff, advocates, litigants and police personnel witnessed the gruesome incident, the accused were acquitted for want of evidence. The victim, Jagan, and 20 other witnesses in the case turned hostile during the course of the hearing fearing for their lives. Judge of Assistant Sessions-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate Court S Sivakadatcham acquitted Vasur Raja and other accused under the provision of section 235 (1).
“Prima facie, the case was not made out after the victim stated that he did not see his attackers as he sustained injuries on his forehead and lost consciousness. The other prosecution witnesses turned hostile,” said an advocate, who witnessed the court proceeding.
The Judge, in fact had directed the police to extend security to the witnesses and victim to enable them to depose freely, added a source.
Though Vasur Raja and his associates were acquitted from the case, they were taken back to Cuddalore Prison in connection with other pending cases, including the abduction-cum-murder of a pawnshop owner, a year ago here.
File picture of a severely injured Jagan being carried in a stretcher after being attacked in the Combined Court Complex; and Vasur Raja (right) | express
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