Three AIADMK men, serving life imprisonment on charges of setting ablaze a bus in Dharmapuri killing three girls of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), were set free from the Vellore Central Prison on Monday. The convicts — Nedunchezhian, Ravindran and Muniappan — had resorted to the violence following former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s conviction in a corruption case on February 2, 2000.
Here is a look back at the 18-year-old case.
February 2, 2000: A Special Court sentences AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa to one-year imprisonment in Kodaikanal Pleasant Stay Hotel case.
The same day, a TNAU bus is torched by AIADMK protesters at Illakkiyampatti in Dharmapuri district. Three students, Gayathri, Kokilavani and Hemalatha are burnt to death.
The State government orders CB-CID probe, while Jayalalithaa insists on a CBI probe.
February 3, 2000: Police FIR names AIADMK members Nedunchezhian, Ravindran, C. Muniappan and 25 others as accused.
2001: As many as 20 witnesses turn hostile before the trial court in Krishnagiri. The Madras High Court steps in and transfers the case to Salem District Court. The trial gets delayed as a bunch of case files go missing. There is also delay in appointing the Special Public Prosecutor.
February 16, 2007: First Additional District Sessions Court in Salem warded capital punishment to three AIADMK men for causing of death of three young women in the bus-burning incident.
December 6, 2007: Madras High Court upholds the trial court verdict.
August 30, 2010: Supreme Court confirms the death sentence awarded to the three convicts by the Madras High Court.
March 4, 2016: The three convicts file review petition in the Supreme Court seeking to roll back their death penalty.
March 11, 2016: Supreme Court commutes the death penalty of three convicts into life imprisonment, saying the incident happened in a flash during mob frenzy and is not pre-meditated.
February 1, 2018: TN Government issues order to release over 1,600 long-time prisoners including Dharmapuri bus burning case convicts to mark MGR birth centenary
October 2018: Governor rejects recommendation to release the three convicts
November 2018: TN Government reiterates recommendation to release them. Governor approves.
November 19, 2018: All three set free from Vellore Central Prison.