What Led to the Life Sentencing of Tamil Reel Star Abirami?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Life imprisonment was imposed on Abirami and Meenatchisundaram.
- Abirami was a popular social media personality.
- The case involved serious lapses by law enforcement.
- The judge emphasized the gravity of the crime.
- Public interest in the case was exceptionally high.
Chennai, July 24 (NationPress) In a significant ruling, the Kancheepuram Principal Sessions Court has sentenced Abirami (32) and her partner Meenatchisundaram (35) to life imprisonment for the heinous killings of Abirami's two young children back in 2018.
The court did not hold back in its criticism of police conduct during the trial, imposing penalties on both individuals.
Principal Sessions Judge Beeju Chemmal found both guilty of multiple charges related to the deaths of Abirami's daughter Karnika (4) and son Ajay (6), rejecting Abirami's plea for clemency based on her long imprisonment and responsibilities to her elderly parents.
“This crime is heinous and premeditated. Life imprisonment is merely a minimum sentence; they must remain incarcerated for the entirety of their lives,” the judge declared.
Both Abirami and Meenatchisundaram received three consecutive life sentences under various sections of the IPC, along with a fine of Rs 15,000 each. Failure to pay this fine would result in an additional three years of imprisonment.
Abirami, who became well-known on social media as a local “reels star” with the nickname Biryani Abirami due to her food-themed content, engaged in an extramarital relationship with Meenatchisundaram, a biryani delivery man from a shop frequented by her family.
When the affair was revealed, Meenatchisundaram allegedly coerced her into eliminating her family.
In September 2018, Abirami laced her family’s milk with sleeping pills. Her daughter Karnika died after ingesting the tainted milk, while her husband Vijay (30) and son Ajay survived.
The next morning, Abirami smothered the drowsy Ajay with a pillow and concealed the children’s bodies, planning to kill Vijay upon his return from work.
However, when Vijay returned home late, she abandoned her plan and fled with Meenatchisundaram to Kanyakumari after pawning her wedding chain.
The following day, Vijay discovered the lifeless bodies of his children and notified the police, initiating the investigation.
Judge Chemmal also condemned the Kundrathur police inspector for delaying the court appearance of the accused, dismissing the officer’s explanation of his child’s illness as unacceptable.
The judge further reprimanded the police for allowing Abirami to appear in court with her face covered by a shawl, deeming it a potential suicide risk that should not be repeated.
This shocking case, starting from biryani deliveries to escalating into a double murder fueled by an illicit affair, attracted significant public attention at the Kancheepuram court as the verdict was delivered.