The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has cancelled the bail granted to Dharmamuneeswaran, who was arrested in the Vilathikulam student murder case, citing his involvement in a subsequent offence while out on bail.
Dharmamuneeswaran, a native of Sayalgudi in Ramanathapuram district, had earlier been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in a case involving the sexual assault and murder of an elderly woman in Kovilpatti. He later approached the High Court seeking suspension of his sentence and bail.
The court had granted him bail with conditions, including a requirement to appear and sign daily at a court in Thoothukudi.
However, while complying with the bail condition, he was arrested again in connection with the sexual assault and murder of a Plus Two student near Vilathikulam.
Subsequently, the Tamil Nadu government moved the High Court seeking cancellation of the bail granted in the earlier case, citing misuse of bail and involvement in a grave offence during the bail period.
A Division Bench comprising Justices Anand Venkatesh and K.K. Ramakrishnan allowed the plea and set aside the earlier order suspending the life sentence and granting bail.
A similar petition filed by the parents of the deceased student was closed in view of the court’s order on the government’s petition.
Following the cancellation of bail, Dharmamuneeswaran has been remanded back to prison to serve his sentence.
