Thoothukudi schoolgirl sexual assault and murder case: Death sentence given to HC

The death sentence awarded by a special POCSO court in Thoothukudi to Dharma Muneeswaran of Sayalkudi, convicted in the case of sexual assault and murder of a 17-year-old Class XII schoolgirl in the district, was referred by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.

Divisional Judges N Anand Venkatesh and KK Ramakrishnan were informed by convict Dharma Muneeswaran, who appeared through video conferencing from Madurai Central Jail, that he had hired a lawyer to file an appeal against the trial court’s verdict. The court adjourned the case to June 12.

A Class XII schoolgirl who went missing on the evening of March 10 in a scrub forest about 250 meters from her residence in Vedanatham was found murdered the next day. Kulathur police recovered the body and sent it to Thoothukudi Government Medical College and Hospital for autopsy.

Parents, relatives and village girls staged a protest demanding the arrest of the accused and appropriate action against the Kulathur and Vilathikulam police for not taking timely action.

Dharma Muneeswaran, who was arrested on March 19 in connection with the sexual assault and murder case, was sentenced to death by the court on May 25.

Published – 05 Jun 2026 20:58 IST