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The Kerala High Court on Friday (August 21) suspended the sentences of four persons convicted in connection with the 2003 Muthanga land struggle case, involving a violent clash between police and Adivasi protesters during an eviction drive at the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary in Wayanad.

Justice A. Badharudeen passed the order in the criminal appeals fiiled by convicts, challenging their conviction and sentence. The Court had earlier orally expressed concern over the manner in which the Sessions Court recorded its finding while convicting four persons in the 2003 Muthanga land struggle case, observing that the judgment would require "thorough scrutiny".

The 2003 confrontation followed the occupation of forest land by Adivasi protesters under the banner of the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha (AGMS). During the police eviction operation, violence broke out, leading to police firing. Eighteen rounds were fired, resulting in the immediate deaths of two protesters, with the overall death toll among the protesters later rising to five. Police constable K.V. Vinod was also killed during the incident.

The appellants include social activist M. Geethanandan, along with Binu, Ramesan and Anilkumar. They were among the 57 persons prosecuted in connection with the violence.

By its judgment dated July 31, 2026, the Sessions Court had convicted the four appellants of offences including unlawful assembly, rioting, wrongful restraint, wrongful confinement, voluntarily causing hurt and grievous hurt to public servants, criminal intimidation, kidnapping, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons and attempt to murder.

The appellants were convicted, among other offences, for attempting to murder Senior Civil Police Officer Abdul Salam and for abducting Forest Range Officer P.K. Sasidharan. They were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of up to five years and directed to pay fines aggregating ₹36,000 each.

Case Title: M. Geethanandan and Ors. v State of Kerala and Anr.

Case No: Crl.A 1057/ 2026

Counsel for Appellants: Madhusoodanan K.S, M.M. Vinod Kumar, P.K. Rakesh Kumar, K.S. Mizver

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