Karuvatta murder: Court with unusual move, prosecution hails decision

ALAPPUZHA: The Alappuzha Juvenile Court remanded three minors, accused in the Karuvatta Sivankutty Chettiar murder case. There is no provision in the Juvenile Justice Act to remand minors in police custody, and thus the order has raised eyebrows. Such a judgement is unprecedented.

The court accepted the prosecution's demand that the accused be released for evidence collection as per the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code. The Juvenile Justice Act only states that children should not be kept in lockups or jails.

The order came after the prosecution informed the court that the case would be weakened if the accused were not released for evidence collection in a murder that has no eyewitnesses. The prosecution said the verdict sends a message that there is no legal protection if minors are used for murder and hooliganism.

Sivankutty Chettiar (65) was murdered on August 15 at Paravoor, Kollam, where he was staying on rent in Karuvatta. The arrested boys told polcie that it was after Chettiar’s granddaughter requested them that they commited the murder. It is alleged that the girl complained of facing misbehaviour by Chettiar. The boys also told police that they had the intention to steal gold and money after the murder.