Mohammed Nisham had ploughed his Hummer into a security guard. (File photo)
Kerala multi-millionaire Mohammad Nisham has been given life term and an additional 24 years imprisonment, for the murder of Chandrabose, the security guard of his posh residential society whom he ran over with his Hummer in a fit of rage a year ago.
He also has to pay a fine of nearly Rs 71.3 lakh, of which Rs 50 lakh have to payed to the security guard's wife.
Known locally as the "beedi king" of Kerala, Mr Nisham had been convicted by a court yesterday. The 39-year-old had pleaded "bipolar disorder" for a lenient sentence.
Mr Nisham has been an accused in 14 cases, many of which had been settled out of court. Three years ago, a video of his nine-year-old son driving a Ferrari was uploaded on YouTube, resulting in a police case and outrage over the audacity of the entrepreneur. This was the first time he has been convicted.
The arrest took place in January last year after the Hummer case evoked widespread outrage.
Mr Nisham had attacked the guard, Chandrabose, at the gated neighbourhood in Thrissur after the man fumbled while opening the gates, causing some delay.
Drunk and furious, not only did Mr Nisham ram the SUV into 51-year-old man, he pinned him to a wall, dragged him for 700 metres, stomped on him and then shouted "this dog will not die," the prosecution has told the court.
Chandrabose died in hospital nearly three weeks after the savage assault.
The prosecution had asked for Rs. 5 crore for his family. Mr Nisham's empire is worth Rs. 5,000 crore, the judge was told.
Chandrabose's wife, though relieved that the businessman was found guilty, was upset with the sentence.
"He will come out and will also be well treated in jail. We wanted death penalty. After all, it is a husband, son and father that we have lost" said Jamanthi, his wife.
Mr Nisham's family said they will challenge the order in higher courts.