Coimbatore CBI court convicts four in two elephant electrocution cases - The HinduUpdated - August 14, 2026 11:01 am IST - COIMBATOREImage used for representational purposes only | Photo Credit: M. PeriasamyThe Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Coimbatore, which is the Special Court for CBI cases, on Thursday convicted four persons in two cases of electrocution of wild elephants in Erode and Coimbatore districts.Chief Judicial Magistrate K. Sivakumar awarded the punishments in the cases, which were taken over and investigated by the CBI from the Forest Department, based on Madras High Court direction.In the first case, the court sentenced Mathappa (38) and his father Kalayya (78) to three-and-a-half years of imprisonment for electrocuting a male wild elephant in Thalavadi in Jeerahalli forest range in Erode district in 2020.The father-son duo cultivated crops such as ragi and paddy in six acres. They powered the iron cable fence around the farm by illegally connecting it to an overhead low tension powerline, resulting in the electrocution of a 10-year-old tusker on December 19, 2020.The court found the two persons guilty for the crime and awarded a fine of ₹25,000 each along with the punishment.In another case, the court sentenced Aruchamy (64) and his wife Thilagavathy of Thennamanallur near Thondamuthur in Coimbatore district to five years of imprisonment for the electrocution of a male elephant within the jurisdiction of the Boluvampatti forest range in 2021.The couple cultivated paddy and other crops in a little over seven acres at Semmedu. They used the electricity connection given for agricultural purposes to power a fence in the farm illegally, leading to the electrocution of a 25-year-old tusker on January 5, 2021. The court also slapped a fine of ₹25,000 each on them.Pronouncing the judgements, the judge observed that the crime committed by the convicts for their personal selfishness resulted in the death of a voiceless creature - elephant. When farming is done in forest areas where elephants naturally roam, it is normal for them to feed on nearby crops to satisfy their hunger. Hence, the act committed by the convicts was not one that warrants a reduction in punishment, he observed.Public Prosecutor V. Surendra Mohan appeared for the CBI in the two cases.Published - August 13, 2026 11:35 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }