A Chennai additional sessions court has sentenced Shaji Purushothaman to five years’ rigorous imprisonment in a case involving a fatal drunk-driving crash in 2013. The incident occurred near Pantheon Road in Egmore, where a luxury car allegedly driven under the influence ran onto the pavement and hit people sleeping there, killing 13-year-old Muniraj.
The case had been heard for about 13 years before the VII Additional Sessions Court in Chennai. The court had earlier, on June 29, found Shaji—son of MP Group chairman M.N. Purushothaman—guilty in the matter.
During the sentencing phase, the court issued warrants after he did not appear. Shaji moved the Madras High Court against the warrant; the High Court withdrew it and directed him to appear for the sentencing hearing, but he did not turn up. His request for exemption from personal appearance citing a spinal issue, and permission to appear via video conference, was rejected by the sessions court, which issued a fresh warrant.
His appeal to the Supreme Court was dismissed. Following the Supreme Court’s direction, Shaji surrendered before the in-charge judge R.K.P. Thamizharasi on Wednesday, after which the court pronounced the sentence.
The judge awarded five years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 for causing death without intention to murder. He was also sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment under another charge and fined Rs 500 for drunk driving, with the prison terms to run concurrently. Police later took him to Puzhal prison.
