Udupi: A Kerala-based worker was on Tuesday sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for attempting to murder his employer by pouring a chemical substance on him. The second additional district and sessions court, Udupi (circuit bench at Karkala), sentenced Ratheesh KT,42, a resident of Kannur district, Kerala, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on him.According to the complaint filed by Sudhir PA, a resident of Thrissur, Kerala, the incident has its roots in an altercation that took place on Feb 28, 2022. Sudhir, along with his worker Ratheesh KT, attended a birthday gathering of one Sajikumar at a plantation owned by Ajith Augustine at Mandadijeddu in Chara village.Later that night, both consumed alcohol. During a conversation, Sudhir allegedly reprimanded Ratheesh for not performing rubber tapping properly, and asked him to improve, citing other workers as examples. This led to a heated argument between the two, which escalated into a physical scuffle. During the altercation, Sudhir’s finger accidentally hit Ratheesh’s left eye. Those present intervened and separated them.Nurturing a grudge over the incident, Ratheesh allegedly attempted to murder Sudhir around 1 am on March 2, 2022. While Sudhir was asleep near the workers’ quarters staircase at the plantation, Ratheesh poured a hot chemical substance on his face, chest and body with the intent to kill him.Based on the complaint, a case was registered at Hebri police station under Sections 326(A), 307, 504 and 506 of the IPC.The investigation was initially carried out by then PSI Mahesh TM, and later by PSI Sudarshan Doddamani, who completed the probe and filed a chargesheet. The accused is currently lodged in Hiriyadka prison.
