Top News

A Kerala court on Monday convicted 58-year-old Chenthamara in the 2025 double murder of his neighbour Sudhakaran and Sudhakaran's mother Lakshmi, after the accused made a chilling statement in court, saying he had "no regrets" and would "do it (kill) again if anyone came in his way." The verdict was delivered by the Palakkad district additional sessions court, with sentencing scheduled for July 15. The prosecution has informed the court that it will seek the death penalty, citing the gravity of the crime and the convict's lack of remorse.

Convict Tells Court He Has 'No Regrets'

The shocking remark came during court proceedings after the judge reportedly observed that the accused displayed no moral guilt and continued to pose a threat to society.

According to Public Prosecutor M.J. Vijayakumar, Chenthamara responded, as per reports: "Yes, I have no regrets. I am not a Gandhian. I will do it (kill) again if anyone comes in my way."

The court found him guilty under Sections 101 (murder) and 126 (wrongful restraint) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Vijayakumar credited the investigation team for building a strong case through scientific evidence, saying forensic findings, witness testimonies and circumstantial evidence played a key role in securing the conviction.

Conviction Comes After Earlier Murder Sentence

The latest conviction comes years after Chenthamara was sentenced in 2019 for the murder of Sudhakaran's wife, Sajitha, in Pothundy. In that case, he was awarded double life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 3.25 lakh.

The prosecution has argued that the repeated killings demonstrate a pattern of violent behaviour, strengthening its demand for capital punishment when the court hears arguments on sentencing on July 15.

Victims' Family Seeks Maximum Punishment

Sudhakaran's daughters, Akhila and Athulya, appealed for the harshest punishment, saying they fear for their lives if the convict is ever released.

Their concerns stem from the fact that they have lost both parents in separate murder cases in which Chenthamara has now been convicted.

Saritha, sister of the deceased Sajitha, also urged the Kerala government to provide protection and employment support to the two daughters.

Defence To Challenge Conviction

Defence counsel Advocate Jacob Mathew criticised the verdict, describing it as "an unexpected lottery" for the prosecution.

He argued that the evidence had not been examined thoroughly and alleged that media coverage had influenced the trial. Mathew said the conviction would be challenged before a higher court.