The prosecution argued for the maximum punishment, emphasizing the need for justice and sought financial assistance for Aneesh's family following the tragedy.
Published Oct 28, 2024 | 12:18 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 28, 2024 | 12:18 PM
Murder (Representational image)
In a significant ruling, a Kerala Court, on Monday, 28 October, sentenced the convicts in the infamous 2020 caste killing case to life imprisonment. Aneesh was murdered in Thenkurissi of the Palakkad district over an intercaste marriage.
On 25 October the court convicted two people, Padma Kumar and Suresh Kumar — father and uncle respectively of Aneesh’s wife Haritha — guilty of murder.
Each convict was also fined ₹50,000, which will be given to Haritha, the widow of the victim, Aneesh.
The proceedings were presided over by R Vinayak Rao, the Additional Sessions Judge of Palakkad.
The prosecution argued for the maximum punishment, emphasizing the need for justice and sought financial assistance for Aneesh’s family following the tragedy.
In contrast, the defence contended that the incident was not exceptionally brutal, arguing that it should not be classified as a rare case that warrants severe penalties.
According to the prosecution, the motive behind the was the resentment towards Aneesh, who belonged to a marginalised caste, for marrying Haritha, a woman from a privileged caste. The incident occurred on 25 December 2020.
Aneesh was hacked to death by Padma Kumar at around 6.30 pm on 25 December, 2020. Aneesh’s brother Arun was an eyewitness to the murder.
On the day, the brothers were travelling on a bike and made a stop near a shop. At that time, the accused persons hacked Aneesh and attempted to hack Arun.
Aneesh was declared dead at a hospital nearby. Following the incident, Padma Kumar fled from the spot and was later arrested from near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. Suresh Kumar was also arrested.
Aneesh was killed hardly three months after his marriage with Haritha. After the preliminary probe itself, the police had declared it an honour killing.
According to reports, Aneesh and Haritha had been in a relationship since their school days and decided to marry with their families’ blessings, however, Haritha’s family rejected the proposal, due to Aneesh belonging to a marginalised caste.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula, with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman)
