“The truth about injustice always sounds outrageous”: Supreme Court stays death sentence of M Samivel, who raped a minor girl and fearing that the girl might tell someone about the crime, he smashed her head against a tree and dropped her into a pond

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the death penalty of a flower vendor accused of raping and murdering a juvenile in Tamil Nadu’s Pudukkottai in 2020.
|
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasimha, and JB Pardiwala, also asked for the Tamil Nadu government’s statement on the issue. According to the reports, Aditya Sondhi, the Senior Advocate, represented the petitioner.
In 2020, the appellant named M Samivel alias Raja was convicted of rape and murder of a 7-year-old Dalit kid who was killed after a penetrative sexual assault. Before perpetrating sexual assault on the youngster, the accused allegedly established acquaintances with her. Fearing that the girl might tell someone about the crime, the accused smashed her head against a tree and dropped her body into a dry pond.
Examination of the girl’s body found injuries on her head, face, neck, and chest, multiple abrasions on the abdomen, thighs, and private parts, among others. Apart from smashing her against a tree, he had also beaten her with a stick. The vicitim was a class II student.
The accused was found guilty by the trial court and was condemned to death by hanging. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court further affirmed the death punishment imposed by Sessions Judge Pudukkottai in the case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act in January (POCSO Act).
A panel of Justices S Vaidyanathan and G Jayachandran emphasized that allowing someone like the accused to thrive in the world would ‘contaminate the brains of co-prisoners on the verge of release.’ The High Court ruled that the presumption was against the accused in this case as Section 29 of the POCSO Act imposed a statutory presumption on the accused.
|
The bench had dismissed the accused’s contention about the delay in filing a first information report (FIR), reasoning that it was natural to hunt for a missing person in all possible locations and only after determining that the missing person could not be found would one consider filing a police complaint.
The case dates back to June 2020, when a seven-year-old Dalit girl had gone missing and her parents lodged an FIR after searching for her for a day. The Police later found the girl in a deserted location near her village and found that she was sexually abused and killed by M Samivel from the same village. He was arrested by the Police on July 2. During interrogation, he confessed to his crime of sexual assault and murder.
Th girl was seen with her before she disappeared, and his clothes were found to be stained with her blood.
The FIR against the accused was then booked under Sections 376 (rape), 302 (murder), 364 (abduction), and 201 (misleading police) of the Indian Penal Code. Charges under the sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2018 were also slapped against him.
References:
Support Us
Satyagraha was born from the heart of our land, with an undying aim to unveil the true essence of Bharat. It seeks to illuminate the hidden tales of our valiant freedom fighters and the rich chronicles that haven't yet sung their complete melody in the mainstream.
While platforms like NDTV and 'The Wire' effortlessly garner funds under the banner of safeguarding democracy, we at Satyagraha walk a different path. Our strength and resonance come from you. In this journey to weave a stronger Bharat, every little contribution amplifies our voice. Let's come together, contribute as you can, and champion the true spirit of our nation.
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
ICICI Bank of Satyaagrah | Razorpay Bank of Satyaagrah | PayPal Bank of Satyaagrah - For International Payments |
If all above doesn't work, then try the LINK below:
Please share the article on other platforms
DISCLAIMER: The author is solely responsible for the views expressed in this article. The author carries the responsibility for citing and/or licensing of images utilized within the text. The website also frequently uses non-commercial images for representational purposes only in line with the article. We are not responsible for the authenticity of such images. If some images have a copyright issue, we request the person/entity to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will take the necessary actions to resolve the issue.
Related Articles
- "In law, not all authorities are 'public'": In a twist that could inspire satirists everywhere, the Bombay High Court clarifies that the Archbishop of Goa isn't under RTI, apparently, divine decrees are no match for bureaucratic ones in the court of law!
- Pastor Father Lawrence has been given a life sentence by a POCSO court in Mumbai for the horrific crime of sodomizing a 13-year-old
- Height of Hypocrisy in the land of Law where accused is hailed and acquitted, but victim is shamed by Court and Church: A timeline of the Bishop Franco Mulakkal case
- Why Hindus not claiming their temples back from the Government control: Is pro-Hindu govt will always be in power
- "He who frames the question wins the debate": Adv. Sai Deepak argued his point, "I am sorry to say this, and let me try and tone down the rigour of my submission, to the extent of saying, I believe they have a cause- I just don’t believe they have a case"
- "अरे क्या वकील साब, इतना तो चलता है": In a recent judgment, Madras High Court redefines terrorism; granting bail to UAPA accused Asif Mustahin who expresses desire to join IS, ‘Planning to kill Hindu leaders from BJP, RSS cannot be called a terrorist act’
- State Police arrested Kerala based Christian pastor couple of forcefully converting over 1000 Hindu Adivasis working in the coffee estates of Kodagu district: Anti-conversion ordinance becomes reality in Karnataka
- "Chutiyaram": Delhi’s Trade Marks Registry shockingly approved ‘CHUTIYARAM’ for Sadhna Goswami’s namkeen and biscuits, but later on withdrawing it after two weeks, admitting Balaji’s epic fail let a crude mark dodge Section 9(2)(c), sparking a hearing
- Tehelka News | In a ground-breaking verdict, the Delhi High Court slapped Tehelka, Tarun Tejpal, Aniruddha Bahal, Mathew Samuel with an order to pay ₹2 crore to Major General MS Ahluwalia following a 2001 sting operation that defamed the ex-Army officer
- "Re-examine all that you have been told... dismiss that which insults your soul": Supreme Court dismisses plea against appointing Justice DY Chandrachud as CJI, said "No reason to entertain this petition. It is completely misconceived. Thus dismissed"
- "It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles": CJI DY Chandrachud lamented, "Hundreds of young people die in India due to honour killings merely because they love someone or marry outside their caste or against their family's wishes"
- Supreme Court agreed to hear a case of an Evangelist and founder of Global Peace Initiative KA Paul - Centre had refused to renew FCRA registration of various NGOs who failed to justify their donations
- "Tradition on Trial: Festivity Faces the Bench": A judicial spark ignites communal debate on tradition as the Kerala High Court orders raid of all religious places to seize illegal crackers; says no holy book commands bursting firecrackers to please God
- "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start": 49th Chief Justice of India, Uday Umesh Lalit's short tenure is a race against time with big plans lined up, he intends to meet head-on the challenges confronting SC
- "Freedom is whatever the Court says it is, pending revision": Kiren Rijiju in Rajya Sabha, "Until we create a new system for Appointment of Judges, issue of Judicial Vacancies will continue to arise which is a big reason for the huge pendency of cases"