Kerala court sentences seven to life for 2016 murder of 19-year-old

A special court in Nedumangad sentenced seven men to life for Vishnu's 2016 murder at his Kannanmoola home. The verdict also brought acquittals, exposed investigative lapses and closed a case marked by gang rivalry.A special court in Nedumangad sentenced seven men to life for Vishnu's 2016 murder at his Kannanmoola home. A special court in Kerala's Nedumangad on Friday sentenced seven people to life imprisonment for the 2016 murder of a 19-year-old man, Vishnu, at Kannanmoola. The court also found an eighth accused guilty, but did not pronounce the sentence as he had died.The court acquitted five others in the case. The accused were found guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.Nedumangad SC/ST Special Court Judge A Shajahan sentenced Arun alias Paratta Arun, Lallu, Rajesh alias Poocha Rajesh, Sanalkumar alias Sanju, Vijesh alias Vishnu, Manu alias Shetty Manu and Sreenath alias Bolji to life imprisonment. The court acquitted Dini Babu, Jayan, Ajees, Unnikrishnan Nair and Dileep. The eighth accused, Suresh alias Ashir, was also found guilty, but the sentence was not pronounced as he had died.Vishnu was murdered on October 7, 2016, after the accused allegedly broke into his house following a fallout between two criminal gangs led by Puthenpalam Rajesh and Dini Babu. He was allegedly targeted because he was close to Puthenpalam Rajesh, who was involved in the murder of Dini Babu's brother, Suni Babu, in December 2015. Vishnu's parents, Anil Kumar and Bindu, and his aunt Laila sustained serious injuries in the attack. The case was first investigated by Pettah police and was later handed over to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Shangumugham. After lapses were found in the investigation, another Assistant Commissioner took over the probe and a revised chargesheet was filed. During the trial, the prosecution examined 48 witnesses and produced 144 material objects and six documents before the court.Vishnu's cousin Adithyan, who was seven years old when he witnessed the murder, also testified before the court. The case ended with life terms for seven accused, the conviction of an eighth who had died, and the acquittal of five others in the murder of Vishnu, who was attacked at his home in 2016.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 14, 2026 13:04 IST