Court convicts EMPEE’s Shaji Purushothaman in 2013 fatal drink-driving case

The prosecution relied on a medical certificate issued by the Royapettah Government Hospital to support its claim that Shaji Purushothaman, the first accused, was under the influence of alcohol. | Photo credit: RAVINDRAN R

More than 13 years after a drunk-driving accident in Chennai claimed the life of a 13-year-old boy and injured five others, a city court has convicted EMPEE Group scion Shaji Purushothaman in a murder case. The court also issued a non-bailable order after he failed to appear for the pronouncement of sentence citing his health condition.

According to the indictment, Shaji Purushothaman, along with three others, consumed alcohol on the night of May 22, 2013, and under the influence of alcohol and with the help of his three friends, drove a Mercedes Benz car rashly and negligently. On May 23, at around 1:00 am, when the car was approaching a maternity hospital in Egmore, he lost control, hit the right front wheel of a police patrol, which had come in the opposite direction. Then the car spun and crashed against the motorcycle parked in the bus shelter and drove into the bus shelter. Two boys, aged about 19, who were repairing flex billboards in the bus shelter, sustained serious injuries. The vehicle then rammed into children sleeping on the pavement nearby, injuring five persons – Master Muniraj, 13, Subarchita, a minor girl, Vasu, Khaja Mohideen and Mani.

A case was registered based on information provided by eyewitness Rajesh. Muniraj succumbed to his injuries on May 23 at 10.30 pm. Shaji, who was listed as the number one accused, was arrested by the police on July 30 after he was declared an offender. Along with Shaji, RM Kumar, a driver from Vyasarpadi, his friends Syed Anwar and Anil Rao from Hyderabad were named as other accused.

The prosecution alleged that the first accused Shaji did not possess a valid driving license. None of the accused tried to help the injured or to inform the police about the accident.

The prosecution disputed Shaji’s claim that his friend Kumar was driving the car. It claimed that Shaji himself was driving at the time of the accident. His name was mentioned in the FIR and the two co-passengers (listed as A-3 and A-4) gave a statement under Section 164 of the Penal Code before the Magistrate stating that Shaji was driving the vehicle after consuming alcohol. He was identified as the driver by other witnesses interviewed during the investigation.

The prosecution further relied on a medical certificate of intoxication issued by the Royapettah Government Hospital to support its claim that Shaji was under the influence of alcohol. He also said that the police inspector who allowed him to leave the scene of the accident was suspended after which the investigation was handed over to the Deputy Commissioner of Police.

During the trial, Syed Anwar was acquitted from the case and Anil Rao got relief from the court. Advocates M. Anand and Kalaichelvan appeared for the prosecution.

The judgment in the case was delivered by VII Additional District Sessions Judge P. Srikumar at the end of the trial on Monday. The judge said that the accused Shaji Purushothaman is found guilty of offenses under sections 304(II) (murder not amounting to murder) and 308 (Attempt to commit murder) (4 counts) of the Indian Penal Code read with section 3 (must have a driving license) read with a valid driving license 181 or attempt to 15 penalty motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs) of the Motor Vehicles Act.

The driver Kumar was acquitted.

When the verdict was pronounced on Monday and the case was called for hearing, the accused A1-Shaji did not appear. The suit filed by Shaji’s lawyer in her absence was dismissed because it was not supported by admissible evidence, the judge said in his order.

The judge issued a non-bailable warrant against Shaji for taking him into custody and bringing him to court for questioning. The judge also ordered the police to take Shaji into custody and produce him before the court on Tuesday for questioning on the quantum of punishment.

However, on Tuesday, the police sought more time citing their failure to secure him and said they were trying to secure Shaji. The court therefore adjourned the matter to July 15 and directed the police to secure him before further proceedings.

Published – 01 Jul 2026 0:49 IST