The Madras High Court, in a significant verdict delivered by Justice P Velmurugan, upheld the conviction of 126 forest officials, 84 police personnel, and 5 revenue officials for their involvement in the 1992 Vachathi crimes in Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu. The judgment comes in response to appeals against their convictions, which have been pending since the Sessions Court’s 2011 verdict.
Justice Velmurugan stated,
“All the criminal appeals are dismissed as devoid of merits and substance”
He further emphasized the need for stringent action against the then District Collector, District Forest Officer, and the Superintendent of Police.
The court has directed the State government to provide a compensation of ₹10 lakh each to the 18 women who were subjected to rape by State officials. Additionally, families of three victims who passed away following the incident are to receive extra compensation. Remarkably, 50% of the compensation amount is to be recovered from the officials who were convicted of rape.
The judge also mandated the state to offer suitable employment opportunities to those victims whose homes were demolished by the officials. He elaborated,
“Government to provide suitable jobs either by self-employment or through any other means to the victims.”
Revisiting the incident, on June 20, 1992, a combined team of forest personnel, policemen, and revenue officials entered the Tribal-dominated village of Vachathi. Under the guise of searching for smuggled sandalwood and gathering intel on the notorious bandit Veerappan, these officials allegedly ransacked properties, destroyed homes, killed livestock, assaulted villagers, and committed rape.
Despite the initial dismissal of a Public Interest Litigation filed by the CPI(M) in the Madras High Court, a subsequent petition in the Supreme Court led to a CBI inquiry into the case. Out of the 269 accused, 54 passed away during the trial, and the remaining officials were convicted.
The High Court’s decision stands as a testament to the pursuit of justice, even decades after the incident.
