AG says will discontinue case against Pillayan

The Attorney General’s Department yesterday informed the Batticaloa High Court that it will not continue with the case against MP Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias “Pillayan”, regarding the murder of former TNA MP Joseph Pararajasingham.

Senior State Counsel Madhawa Tennakoon informed the Batticaloa High Court of this decision when the case was taken up. Six defendants, including Pillayan, have been charged over the murder, while five of them appeared before court.

The High Court Judge stated that his decision, on the request of the Attorney General’s Department, would be delivered next Wednesday. 

Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) leader and Parliamentarian Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias “Pillayan”, was granted bail on 24 November 2020 after spending five years in remand custody.

Pillayan had been in remand custody since his arrest on 11 October 2015 when he arrived at the CID to give a statement in connection with the assassination of the late Tamil politician Joseph Pararajasingham, who was shot dead on Christmas Eve in 2005.

A gunman opened fire on TNA MP Pararajasingham after he received communion at St Mary’s Church in Batticaloa, killing him and injuring eight others, including his wife.