In the Eraniyal Judicial Magistrate Court, a total of seven criminal cases — C.C. No. 40/2017, 41/2017, 42/2017, 51/2020, 73/2017, 364/2020, and 412/2019, involving IPRO members from the Cumbum Unit (Velmurugan & others) were under trial. All government witnesses were thoroughly cross-examined by our legal counsel, who effectively exposed inconsistencies in the prosecution’s narrative.

During these proceedings, it was discovered that an eighth case, C.C. No. 107/2020, was also pending against the same individuals in the same court. Our legal team immediately took steps to bring that case to trial, along with the seven other cases.

Despite the police department’s aggressive efforts and repeated attempts to ensure conviction, our legal defense remained strong, fact-based, and persistent. All eight cases resulted in full acquittal for the accused, Mr. Velkumar, Mr. Karumalaiyan, Mr. Nagaraj, Mr. Mariappan and Mr. Karuppaiah.

This verdict not only proves the innocence of the accused but also stands as a significant victory for justice and human rights, reflecting the importance of strong legal support for marginalized communities.

The entire legal process, from the commencement of trial to final judgment, was completed in just two months, an exceptional achievement, considering the number of cases and the intensity of police involvement. The swift judgement was possible due to the timely coordination between the legal team and IPRO field staff, diligent documentation of facts, and the consistent follow-up by the accused persons and their local unit members. This legal success has reaffirmed the confidence of the community in the legal support structure provided by IPRO and strengthened the resolve to continue the struggle against the criminalisation of the marginalized.

Priya, Trainer, Kal Oddar Unit