The special court for POCSO Act cases in Thoothukudi on Monday (May 25, 2026) sentenced Dharma Muneeswaran, 38, of Sayalkudi, to death on two counts after convicting him in the sexual assault and murder case of a 17-year-old schoolgirl in the district in March.

The girl had gone missing in a scrub forest area around 250 metres from her residence at Vedanatham village on the evening of March 10, and was found murdered on March 11. The Kulathur police had recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem examination to the Thoothukudi Government Medical College and Hospital.

Following the incident, the victim’s parents, relatives, and villagers staged a protest, demanding the arrest of the accused and action against the Kulathur and Vilathikulam police for allegedly failing to act in a timely manner.

After a week-long hunt, the accused, Munneswaran, was arrested on March 19 in connection with crime.

Then Superintendent of Police of Thoothukudi district C. Madhan had said that evidence leading to Muneeswaran was gathered through scientific investigation.

Following the arrest, Dharma Muneeswaran was remanded in judicial custody at the central prison in Palayamkottai, before being shifted to Madurai prison due to safety concerns.

The investigation officer, Vilathikulam DSP Sundarapandian, filed a chargesheet of about 1,150 pages on March 31. The case was presided over by II Additional District Judge M. Breetha.

Special Prosecutor V. Ellammal said 71 witnesses were examined between May 5 and May 22. The prosecution submitted 19 material objects and 117 documentary evidences before the court. Holding the accused guilty, the court awarded him two death penalties and one year’s imprisonment under Sections 104 and 127(2) of the BNS and Section 6 of the POCSO Act.

IG hails verdict

The double death sentence awarded by the court to the accused in the Thoothukudi schoolgirl rape and murder case restores faith in the criminal justice system, said Inspector General of Police Vijayendra Bidari on Monday.

He said the trial proceedings in the case that created much uproar in the State were completed in 54 days, resulting in highest punishment for the accused.

Vijayendra Bidari, Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the South Zone, during his interaction with The Hindu, in Madurai on May 25, 2026 | Video Credit: R. Ashok

“There was no clue to the crime and its circumstances in this ‘blind’ case,” he added.

Senior police officers, including the ADGP (Law and Order), IG South Zone and DIG Tirunelveli Range, camped in Thoothukudi for multiple days.

Ten special teams were formed and swift efforts were taken to secure the accused.

With meticulous investigation, a clue was found in CCTV analysis, following which a two-wheeler rider was identified as prime suspect. Later, conclusive proof of DNA match confirmed the involvement of the accused in the crime.

The IG also appreciated the investigation officer, Sundarapandian, under the supervision of SP Thoothukudi, for the meticulous and swift manner in filing the chargesheet in 21 days after detailed investigation.