Kodanad case accused Sayan,Manoj acquitted from charges of threatening witness
According to the prosecution, Sayan and Manoj, who were part of a larger gang, had stayed in the cottage owned by Santhakumari, on the night of break-in into the estate.
Kodanand estate
COIMBATORE: The Additional Mahila Court in the Nilgiris on Friday acquitted Kodanad heist cum murder accused KV Sayan and ‘Walayar’ Manoj in a case of threatening a witness. The duo, part of an 11-member heavily armed gang, broke into the Kodanad estate bungalow of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa following her demise and looted valuables after murdering the security guard on the night of 23 April 2017. One of the prime accused, Kanagaraj, died in a road mishap, while all others were arrested in the case.
They stayed in a cottage owned by Santhakumari in Ooty before executing the daring dacoity at the sprawling estate. During the course of the investigation, the police included Santhakumari as a key witness in the case.
In 2020, Santhakumari complained to the Ooty Central Police Station, alleging that Sayan and Manoj had intimidated her by testifying in court.
Based on her complaint, the police booked the duo on various counts, including intimidation and harassment charges. However, the lawyers of Sayan and Manoj argued that the police booked a false case to detain them under the Goondas Act.
Following the trial, the Additional Mahila Court Judicial Magistrate acquitted both Sayan and Manoj as the prosecution failed to prove the offence beyond a doubt. However, the trial in the main dacoity and murder case is still under way.