A City Sessions Court on Thursday sentenced Shaji Purushothaman, the Empee Group scion, to five year-rigorous imprisonment in connection with a drunk driving crash that claimed the life of a 13-year-old boy and left five others injured in 2013.
Shaji Purushothaman, along with three others, consumed alcohol on the night of May 22, 2013, and abetted by his friends, drove a Mercedes-Benz in a rash and negligent manner. At around 1 a.m. on May 23, he lost control of the vehicle near the maternity hospital at Egmore, and hit the front wheel of an oncoming police patrol vehicle.
In the impact, the car swerved, dashed against a parked motorcycle, and ploughed through a bus shelter. Two boys, aged about 19 years, who were fixing flex advertisement boards at the bus shelter, sustained severe injuries. The vehicle then hit children sleeping on a nearby pavement, injuring five persons – three minors and two adults.
Based on the information given by an eye witness, Rajesh, a case was registered.
During the course of the investigation, one of the victims, Muniraj, 13, succumbed to injuries at 10.30 p.m. on May 23. Shaji, who was cited as accused number one, was arrested by police on July 30, 2013, only after being declared proclaimed offender.
The other accused were R.M. Kumar, a driver from Vyasarpadi, and Shaji’s friends Syed Anwar and Anil Rao from Hyderabad. During the trial, Syed Anwar was discharged from the case and Anil Rao was granted relief from facing the trial. Following the trial, Kumar was also acquitted.
The case was tried by Public Prosecutor M. Anand before the VII Additional District Sessions Judge. The court, on May 29, 2026, found Shaji Purushothaman guilty.
As Shaji failed to appear in the court, a non-bailable warrant was issued against him, and the court did not pronounce the quantum of his sentence.
The court also directed the police to trace and produce him before it on Thursday. In the meantime, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea from him.
On Thursday, Shaji was sentenced to five years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹10,000. He was also given different sentences under other provisions of the law. However, the judge said all sentences run concurrently.
Published - July 31, 2026 12:32 am IST