Malappuram: The Additional District Sessions Court in Manjeri on Saturday sentenced the first accused, Malangadan Shafeeq (56), to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh for the murder of Youth League worker Othayi Palliparamban Manaf.

“We are happy with the verdict and sentence. We have got justice after 30 years,” said Manaf's uncle Abubacker.

During the trial, Judge AV Telles convicted Shafeeq, a nephew of former MLA and Trinamool Congress leader PV Anvar, under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and acquitted three other accused. Manaf, an autorickshaw driver, was beaten and stabbed to death in broad daylight at Othayi Angadi near Edavanna on April 13, 1995.

Shafeeq’s brother Sherif (54), Nilambur Janathappadi native Muneeb (52), and Elamaram Mapram Payyanatthodika Kabir Jabir (52) were acquitted. Manaf’s uncle Abubacker said an appeal will be filed against Sherif’s acquittal. Manaf’s siblings—Rasakh, Mansoor, and Rajeena—were present in court and said their decades-long legal fight had finally brought justice.

VN Anilkumar, former Senior Special Public Prosecutor of the CBI, appeared as Special Prosecutor.

According to the chargesheet, four accused, including Shafeeq, fled abroad and remained absconding for nearly 25 years. Progress came only after a prolonged legal battle led by Manaf’s family. In 2009, the Manjeri Additional District Sessions Court had earlier acquitted Anvar, the second accused, along with 20 others, after the first witness turned hostile.

For years, the police made no headway in arresting the four key absconding accused, including two nephews of Anvar. The investigation gained pace after Manaf’s brother Abdul Rasaq approached the court. On July 25, 2018, the Manjeri Judicial First Class Magistrate Court issued lookout notices and directed police to trace the accused with Interpol’s assistance. Following this, three of them, including the second accused Sherif, surrendered.

Meanwhile, Rasaq’s revision petition seeking punishment for the 21 accused earlier acquitted—including PV Anvar—is pending before the Kerala High Court.