Kalluvathukkal hooch tragedy: Kerala asks Manichan to pay fine or serve 22 years jail term

New Delhi: Kalluvathukkal hooch tragedy kingpin Manichan continues to remain in jail even after the Kerala government gave consent to release him. In an affidavit submitted before the Supreme Court, the Kerala government declared that Manichan should remain in jail if he could not pay the fine of Rs 30.45 lakh. The fine amount will be distributed among the kins of the hooch tragedy victims, informed the government in its affidavit before the SC.

The government filed the affidavit before the Supreme Court in reply to a plea moved by Manichan’s wife against the government order that demanded payment of Rs 30.45 lakh fine for release.

In the affidavit, the government also quoted the order of Kollam Additional Sessions Court and Attingal First Class Judicial Magistrate Court which slapped Rs 30.45 lakh fine on Manichan. If he could not pay the fine, he must serve a jail term of 22 years and 9 months, asserted the order.

The state government also informed the apex court that the hooch tragedy claimed 31 lives, injured 266 people and left five visually impaired.

Meanwhile, the government agreed to release Vinod Kumar and Manikandan, two other convicts in the case. As per the trial court order, the duo has to either pay a fine of Rs 8,30,000 or serve a jail term of 8 years and 4 months. 

The apex court will consider the government’s affidavit on Wednesday.

In June, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan signed the recommendation forwarded by the state government seeking release of Chandran alias Manichan who was convicted in Kalluvathukkal hooch tragedy case that rocked the state two decades ago.

Manichan has been serving jail term in the case for more than 22 years. He is part of a group of prisoners to be pardoned as part of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', marking the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence.