Madhu’s should be the last lynching case in Kerala: Court

Special Court for SC-ST (PoA) Act Judge K.M. Retheesh Kumar, who issued the verdict of the sensational Madhu lynching case, has observed that it should be the last lynching case in Kerala.

Special Court for SC-ST (PoA) Act Judge K.M. Retheesh Kumar, who issued the verdict of the sensational Madhu lynching case, has observed that it should be the last lynching case in Kerala.

“This is the first mob lynching case in God’s own country. Let it be the last such case. The materials placed before the court reveal that the accused have assumed the role of moral police. Such moral policing can never be encouraged in a civilised society,” said judge Retheesh Kumar.

The judgment said that unless such moral policing was deprecated by awarding adequate sentences, this practice will be repeated by like-minded people. “It should be a lesson for all those who are thinking of assuming the role of moral police,” observed the judge.

The verdict also warned the police against laxity in taking action on complaints, particularly theft. Had the police apprehended Madhu following complaints of theft raised against him, he could have been brought before law and he could have been treated and rehabilitated at the State expense, Mr. Retheesh Kumar observed.

“This incident is a lesson to the police force in our State, reminding them that no complaint should be left unattended and all such complaints should be taken seriously. If the police play blind attention to complaints of theft taking into account of the value involved therein, that will result in developing a tendency of moral policing among the society. I find that this unfortunate incident is a lesson for the police force also,” the judge said.

The court held a sympathetic view of the allegations of theft against Madhu. “Even if it is assumed that the so-called properties found in the custody of Madhu were stolen ones, it can only be said that Madhu did not steal for the joy of it, but because of the clamour of his stomach,” the court observed.

Mr. Retheesh Kumar underscored that Madhu’s life should be respected just like the life of any other citizen. “The court cannot award a flea-bite sentence in this case for the reason that the person who died is not a big shot.”