The Kerala High Court delivered a landmark verdict in the 2018 Attappady Madhu mob lynching case by enhancing the punishment of 12 convicts to life imprisonment while acquitting the first accused due to lack of sufficient evidence. The judgment has once again brought national attention to one of Kerala’s most shocking cases involving violence against a tribal youth.
Madhu, a 27-year-old tribal youth from Attappady in Palakkad district, was brutally assaulted by a mob in February 2018 after being accused of stealing food items from a local shop. Images of the injured youth being humiliated and tied up had triggered outrage across Kerala and the country, leading to widespread protests and demands for justice.
A Division Bench of the High Court revised the earlier judgment issued by the Mannarkkad Special Court in 2023, which had sentenced several accused to seven years of imprisonment. Hearing appeals filed by the Kerala government and Madhu’s family seeking stricter punishment, the High Court ruled that the crime deserved stronger legal action considering its brutality and the social circumstances surrounding the incident.
The court enhanced the sentence of 12 accused to life imprisonment under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. At the same time, the first accused was acquitted after the court observed that evidence proving direct involvement was insufficient.
The High Court also ordered compensation for Madhu’s mother, recognizing the severe emotional and social impact caused by the incident. Legal experts described the verdict as a strong judicial message against mob violence and crimes targeting marginalized communities.
Madhu’s family reacted with mixed emotions, welcoming the enhanced punishment while expressing disappointment over the acquittal of one accused. Human rights groups and tribal organizations largely welcomed the judgment, calling it an important step toward accountability and justice.
News as reported
