40 years on, Naxal case continues to haunt Kerala top cop

In a blow to former inspector general of police K Lakshmana, Kerala high court today upheld the life sentence awarded to him by a CBI court in Kochi for the "brutal killing" of Naxal leader A Varghese in police action in Waynad forests 40 years ago.

Dismissing an appeal by Lakshmana, a division bench comprising Justice Thothathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice S Sateesh Chandran said they were not inclined to interfere with last year's judgment of the CBI court.

They accepted the evidence of first accused in the case, late Ramachandran Nair, a former CRPF constable who "confessed" he had shot Varghese on directions from his superior officers.

The bench also dismissed a revision petition by A Thomas, brother of Varghese, to enhance the punishment awarded to Lakshmana and challenging acquittal of former DGP P Vijayan.

CBI special court in Kochi had on October 28, 2010 sentenced Lakshmana to life imprisonment and asked him to pay a fine of Rs10,000. Vijayan was acquitted giving him the benefit of doubt.

The court had found that Varghese was 'brutally' killed by police on February 18, 1970 in Thirunelli jungles in Wyanad.

The case was reviewed in 1998 when Ramachandran Nair confessed to the killing that he had shot the Naxal leader on the command of Lakshmana, the then Dysp, and Vijayan, then SP. Nair, who passed away in 2006, had said he was making the confession to clear his conscience.