Sharon’s parents, expressing disappointment over Greeshma's mother's acquittal, hinted at filing an appeal in the Kerala High Court.
Published Jan 17, 2025 | 1:36 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 17, 2025 | 1:36 PM
File photo of Greeshma and Sharon Raj. (Supplied)
The Neyyattinkara Additional Sessions Court on Friday, 17 January, convicted Greeshma and her uncle, Nirmalakumaran Nair, in the murder of 23-year-old radiology student Sharon Raj.
Greeshma’s mother, Sindhu, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. Meanwhile, Judge AM Basheer held Greeshma guilty under Sections 302 (murder), 328 (causing harm to a person using poison or other harmful substances), 364 (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence, or providing false information to protect an offender from legal punishment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Her uncle Nirmalakumaran Nair, the third accused, was found guilty under Section 201 of the IPC.
The quantum of punishment will be announced on Saturday, 19 January.
Key testimony from Sharon’s friend and his deathbed statement to a magistrate were critical to securing the convictions.
The defence, however, highlighted inconsistencies in the investigation and suggested Sharon may have consumed the poison voluntarily.
Sharon’s parents, expressing disappointment over Sindhu’s acquittal, hinted at filing an appeal in the Kerala High Court.
What began as a love story ended in betrayal, pain, and a tragic death that has shaken an entire community.
Sharon, a 23-year-old vibrant young man, spent his final days battling unimaginable physical agony after consuming a poisoned drink allegedly given by Greeshma.
The shocking premeditated act unfolded in the most unsuspecting manner and revealed a sinister twist in a love story gone wrong.
On 14 October 2022, Sharon, accompanied by his friend Rejin, visited Greeshma at her home.
During the visit, Greeshma offered Sharon a homemade herbal decoction. Shortly after consuming it, Sharon began to vomit violently. The symptoms escalated rapidly. He returned home physically drained, unable to eat or even swallow water.
Over the next few days, Sharon’s condition worsened. Medical evaluations at Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College revealed severe oesophagal burns caused by toxic ingestion. He ultimately died of organ failure on 25 October.
While Sharon struggled to survive, he never accused Greeshma, even when repeatedly asked by doctors if he had consumed anything unusual.
Despite the mystery surrounding Sharon’s illness, his family’s suspicions grew. They approached the police, alleging foul play involving the food and drink provided by Greeshma.
Investigators soon uncovered evidence of Greeshma’s shocking betrayal. Confronted with the evidence, Greeshma confessed to lacing the decoction with poison, an act meticulously planned to end Sharon’s life. However, in his final hours, Sharon confided his doubts to his father.
Police investigations revealed that Greeshma had premeditated the crime.
The murder plot emerged after Sharon refused to end their relationship, despite the formalisation of Greeshma’s marriage to a soldier from Nagercoil.
Investigators have uncovered extensive digital evidence revealing the chilling extent of Greeshma’s alleged preparation to poison Sharon, her former partner.
According to the findings, Greeshma had conducted online searches about the herbicide paraquat—a highly toxic herbicide—mixed with an Ayurvedic tonic, and its effects on the human body just hours before allegedly administering the lethal concoction.
Greeshma is accused of luring Sharon to her residence under the guise of reconciliation and offering him a drink laced with paraquat.
During the trial, Dr Aruna R, Head of Internal Medicine at Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College, testified that even a small dose of 15 ml of paraquat is fatal, emphasizing the lack of an antidote for such poisoning.
This wasn’t Greeshma’s first alleged attempt. Evidence suggests that she previously tried to harm Sharon using a “juice challenge.”
She reportedly mixed multiple paracetamol tablets into mango juice and offered it to him in Neyyoor, Kanyakumari.
However, Sharon spat out the drink due to its bitter taste, thwarting her plan.
The digital evidence and meticulous preparation investigators unearthed paint a disturbing picture of the lengths Greeshma allegedly went to execute her plan.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
