Retired Kerala inspector-general of police (IGP) K Lakshmana, 74, who was found guilty of murdering Maoist leader A Varghese on Wednesday, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday.

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The case goes back 40 years to February 18, 1970, the day Lakshmana directed Central Reserve Police Force constable Ramachandran Nair to shoot dead Varghese, who was then in police custody, in Kerala’s Wayanad district.

Until Nair revealed the real story, it was believed that Varghese was killed in a shootout.

Nair confessed to the crime in 1998, saying there was never a police encounter.

After a series of petitions, the Kerala High Court asked CBI to conduct a probe.

Meanwhile, Nair died.

The CBI investigation got a boost when Nair’s colleague and retired constable AKM Haneefa, who was a witness in the case, said Lakshmana was present at the spot when Varghese was shot dead.