Kozhikode: The Kozhikode Second Additional District and Sessions Court on Tuesday sentenced a Tamil Nadu native, Mani alias Manivarnan, to life imprisonment for killing a man by setting him ablaze using liquor. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh, with an additional two years of imprisonment if the fine is not paid.

The victim, Thannikkundummal Shoukath (48), was a resident of Valiyaparamb, Koduvally, in Kozhikode.

The incident occurred on March 13, 2022, at a shop veranda near the Kozhikode railway station. Mani, intoxicated, poured liquor over Shoukath and set him on fire before fleeing the scene by train. Shoukath, who suffered critical burns, succumbed to his injuries on April 2, 2022, at the Government Medical College Hospital.

Kozhikode Town Police later apprehended Mani from Thalassery, Kannur.

According to the probe officials, Mani and Shoukath had a dispute over liquor that belonged to Shoukath. Seeking revenge, Mani returned to the shop veranda where Shoukath was sleeping and set him on fire at 12.05 am.

Assistant Commissioner Biju Raj led the investigation, with Sub-Inspectors Anoop, Jayasree, and Mohammed Sabeer from the Town Police Station forming the core team.