Kochi (Kerala) [India], Aug 12 (ANI): The Kerala High Court on Wednesday upheld the double life sentence of four persons convicted in connection with the murder of a gem dealer named Harihara Varma in the year 2012.

A division bench of Justice A Hariprasad and Justice N Anil Kumar upheld the verdict of a fast track court which sentenced all four persons -- M Jithesh, Ajeesh, Rakhil, Ragesh -- to double life imprisonment and Rs 3 lakh fine each.

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The convicts had moved the High Court challenging the order of the trial court.

Meanwhile, the High Court also acquitted Joseph, another accused in the case, who was also convicted by the fast track court on May 13, 2014. The court also dismissed a plea of the victim's wife against the acquittal of advocate Haridas, who was the sixth accused in the matter.

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Haridas, who was a friend of the victim, was acquitted by the trial court.

Harihara Varma, 59, was smothered to death at the residence of Haridas's daughter in Puthoorkonam, about a km away from Vattiyoorkavu in Thiruvananthapuram, on December 24, 2012.

According to the prosecution, Haridas had approached Varma under the guise of buying gemstones and murdered him. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)