Chittoor, AP, May 8 : Son of Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi, MK Azhagiri, was on Thursday acquitted along with 12 others by a sessions court here in a case relating to the murder of a former DMK minister for want of reliable evidence.

Sessions judge P Durga Prasad in a brief verdict observed that there was no reliable evidence to connect the accused with the murder of former minister T Kiruttinan. The judge said the detailed judgment would be pronounced on Friday.

Azhagiri, along with the other accused, was present in the court when the judgment was delivered amidst tight security.

A large contingent of DMK workers, who were present in the court, raised slogans in support of Azhagiri and Karunanidhi. The case was shifted from Madurai to Chittoor last year following a Supreme Court directive in response to a petition by two of the relatives of Kiruttinan, saying they would not get a fair trial.

Azhagiri and 12 of his associates were accused of murdering Kiruttinan on May 20, 2003 following a factional feud. Azhagiri was arrested two days later and lodged in Tiruchi central prison.

—PTI

editor@expressindia.com