CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the police to file a response to an appeal by members of the Bawariya gang challenging the life sentences awarded in the murder of former AIADMK Minister V Sudarsanam and the robbery of 62 sovereigns of gold jewellery.

Sudarsanam, former MLA from Gummidipoondi and Minister for Backward Classes Welfare, was killed on January 9, 2005, around 2.45 am. A five-member gang broke into his residence at Thanakkulam near Periyapalayam, shot him dead, assaulted his wife and son, and fled with the gold jewellery.

The Bawariya gang members, from Haryana and Rajasthan, were arrested in connection with the case. Of the 32 booked, nine persons, including Om Prakash and his brother Jagadish, were taken into custody. Three women accused, who were granted bail, later absconded, while Om Prakash Bawariya and another accused died in prison.

The trial against the remaining four accused — Jagadish, Rakesh, Ashok, and Jailthar Singh — was conducted by the Additional Sessions Court in Chennai, which sentenced Jagadish, Rakesh, and Ashok to life imprisonment.

The convicts filed an appeal before the Madras High Court seeking to set aside the Sessions Court verdict. Hearing the plea, a Division Bench comprising Justices SM Subramaniam and P Dhanabal directed the Periyapalayam police to file a counter-affidavit within four weeks and adjourned the matter for further hearing.