Hajipur Trial: Arguments Completed, Verdict Likely On 27th January

NALGONDA: Arguments in the Hajipur rape and murder case were completed in the specially appointed fast track court in Nalgonda on Friday.

The hearing was held at the Nalgonda First Additional Sessions Court where the Court has reserved its judgement after hearing the arguments on both sides and adjourned the matter. The verdict is likely to be pronounced on the 27th of January.

Final arguments began in the Nalgonda court over a series of murders involving Marri Srinivas Reddy, the accused who was allegedly accused in murdering three girls in Bommalaramaram, Hajipur mandal, in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district in the beginning of January.

Special Public Prosecutor Chandrashekhar made his arguments before District First Additional Sessions Court Judge V Viswanath Reddy. According to DNA evidence, fingerprints and cell phone tower location, the witnesses testified that Srinivas Reddy was the accused from the beginning. The evidence of the police, revenue officials, parents of the deceased, and others, makes it clear that Srinivas Reddy was responsible for the killings.

Meanwhile arguments on behalf of the accused were completed on January 9th. Tagore, who appeared on behalf of the accused, told the court that there was no connection between Srinivas Reddy and the case. He also said that though the phone numbers, which were retrieved by the police, belonged to him, there is no evidence to suggest that Srinivas Reddy used them, he said. He also said that Srinivas Reddy was falsely accused and arrested based on the suspicion of some of the villagers from Hajipur village.

The prosecution has sought death penalty for the accused and urged the court to consider it as a ‘rarest of the rare’ case. “Under the Pocso Act, the accused deserves death penalty and no mercy should be given to him.” In a hearing held on January 7th the prosecution said that under the Supreme Court guidelines, rape and murder of a minor girl by an accused should be considered as the rarest of rare case deserving death by hanging and added that persons like Srinivas were a danger to society.

Also Read: Hajipur Trial: Accused Says He Has No Connection With Case, Was Falsely Accused