Additional District and Sessions Court-IV, Palakkad, on Monday (July 20, 2026) sentenced Chenthamara, the lone convict in the Pothundy double murder case, to death by hanging. The court held that the case fell under the “rarest of rare” category. The sentence is subject to confirmation by the High Court.
Judge Kenneth George also imposed a fine of ₹20 lakh and directed that it be paid as compensation to the victims’ children. As Chenthamara has no means to pay, the court directed the State to provide the compensation.
The court had found Chenthamara guilty of murdering Sudhakaran, 50, and his 75-year-old mother, Lakshmi, who were hacked to death at their home at Boyan Colony, Pothundy, near Nemmara, on January 27, 2025. He was convicted under Sections 103(1) and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The sentence came about 18 months after the crime.
The judge accepted the prosecution’s case that the murders were premeditated. He also held that Chenthamara remained a continuing threat to society.
The court said the circumstantial nature of the evidence did not preclude the death penalty and cited Chenthamara’s lack of remorse, repeated attempts to justify the killings, and threats against the victims’ family.
The defence opposed the death penalty, citing a mitigation report prepared by the District Legal Services Authority and arguing that the possibility of reform could not be ruled out. It also submitted that the convict’s prison earnings could be paid to the victims’ family. But the court rejected those submissions.
The court also took note of Chenthamara’s earlier conviction for the murder of Sudhakaran’s wife Sajita. In October 2025, the same court had sentenced him to double life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹3.25 lakh in that case.
According to the prosecution, Chenthamara blamed Sudhakaran’s family for his wife and daughter leaving him and later believed they had used black magic against him.
While on bail in the Sajita murder case, he returned to Pothundy by violating bail conditions and hacked Sudhakaran and Lakshmi to death. Police arrested him the next day after a search in nearby hills.
The murders left Sudhakaran and Sajita’s two daughters orphaned and drew criticism of the police after relatives alleged that repeated complaints about Chenthamara’s threats and bail violations had been ignored.
During the trial, the prosecution examined 81 witnesses and relied on scientific and other evidence to secure the conviction. The court commended DySP N. Muralidharan and his team for completing the investigation in 56 days.
Sudhakaran’s daughters, Athulya and Akhila, were present at the court and expressed relief at the verdict.
“We are happy with the sentence. But our happiness is nothing compared to the loss suffered by those two girls,” said Mr. Muralidharan, who investigated the case.
Published - July 20, 2026 07:19 pm IST