Coimbatore

The two main accused VK Sayan and ‘Walayar’ Manoj were produced before the court in connection with the break-in and murder of security Ohm Bahadur in the wee hours of April 24, 2017, in Kodanad tea estate, over four months after former chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s death.

Eight others, M Kutti alias Bijin, Jithin Joy, Manoj Sami, Satheeshan, Deepu, Santhosh Sami, Samsheer Ali and Udayakumar, who were on bail also appeared in the court. During the hearing, Anand, the counsel for the accused submitted a petition praying to protect Manoj and Sayan from torture in the prison. Later speaking to reporters, Anand said that Sayan and Manoj were not provided proper food, water and were denied alternative clothes. “They were lodged in a cell without any basic amenities and declined permission to talk to their family members.

When questioned over the ill treatment, the prison officials have informed that they have received orders in this regard from the higher ups. Thus, Sayan went on a fasting protest. It is a plot to kill them in the prison,” Anand said. Sayan had already survived a road crash, while his wife and daughter were killed. Accepting the petition, judicial magistrate K Annamalai issued an order to Coimbatore Central Prison seeking a report on the facilities being provided to them in the jail. The next hearing has been fixed on November 9.

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