Vilathikulam student murder: DNA test helps nail culprit Muneeswaran, courts awards him double death penalty

CHENNAI: A special court in Thoothukudi on Monday sentenced Dharma Muneeswaran alias Maveeran (37) to death on two counts for the sexual assault and murder of a Class 12 student in Thoothukudi's Vilathikulam. The verdict comes within 75 days of the accused's arrest.

Special Public Prosecutor V Ellammal Kissinger described the judgment as a historic verdict, noting that the convict was awarded the death penalty under two sections of law.

"Though there was no direct eyewitness evidence, the case was proved through scientific investigation," Ellammal said.

DNA analysis played a crucial role, with samples collected during the victim's postmortem matching the accused's blood samples. "The DNA profiles were identical, conclusively establishing the accused's involvement," she said, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

Ellammal also credited the swift action of the police, stating that circumstantial and scientific evidence was collected within 10 days of the crime, leading to the arrest of the accused.

Background of the Vilathikulam rape-murder case

The deceased, a 17-year-old student from Vedanatham near Kulathur in Vilathikulam, went missing on March 10, and her body was recovered from a secluded area behind her house the following day. The post-mortem confirmed sexual assault and fatal injuries.

The accused 37-year-old Dharma Muneeswaran alias Maaveeran of Sayalkudi in Ramanathapuram district was apprehended days later after CCTV footage from a windmill and a stolen motorcycle found near the crime scene provided crucial leads.

A missing case was registered on March 11, which was later altered to murder and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences offences upon the discovery of the body in the outskirts of Vedanatham village on the same day, the police had said.

According to the police, there had been no CCTV at the scene of the crime, but they had checked nearly 98 CCTV footage from surrounding areas, including the Kulathur-Kurukkusalai stretch, covering all en route villages.

Convict a history-sheeter

Muneeswaran was convicted in a 2020 case involving the robbery and murder of a 65-year-old woman and another sexual assault in Keezh Eeral.

A Thoothukudi Mahila court had sentenced him to life imprisonment in 2024. He was granted bail by the High Court on December 18, 2024, and had been signing before the Mahila court since December 24, as per court directives.

(With inputs from Bureau)