A Kerala court has sentenced three individuals to life imprisonment in connection with the murder of former Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) councillor Abdul Jaleel. The Additional District and Sessions Court-III in Manjeri delivered the verdict on Wednesday, also imposing a fine of ₹1 lakh on each of the convicts.
The incident that led to Jaleel’s death occurred on March 29, 2022, at Kuttippara near Manjeri. According to the prosecution, a dispute over giving side to a motorcycle escalated into an assault, with the accused damaging the windshield of Jaleel’s car and threatening him and his friends.
Later that night, one of the accused, Shamseer, informed the others about Jaleel’s location, and Shuhaib allegedly attacked him with a granite stone, striking him on the head. Jaleel suffered severe injuries and succumbed to them on March 30, 2022, while undergoing treatment.
The court ordered that if the fine is paid, ₹3 lakh should be given to Jaleel’s legal heirs and ₹25,000 to a witness in the case, Abbas. The investigation was led by then Manjeri Inspector C. Alavi, who arrested the accused, and later, Inspector Riyas Chakkeeri submitted the chargesheet. The prosecution examined 45 witnesses and produced 98 documents and 12 material objects before the court.
Special public prosecutor K.V. Sabu represented the prosecution in the case. Following the verdict, the three convicts were shifted to the Kannur Central Jail.
