In a landmark judgment, the Neyyattinkara Additional Sessions Court sentenced Greeshma, a 23-year-old literature student, to death for the premeditated murder of her partner, Sharon Raj, a final-year BSc Radiology student. The verdict, delivered by Judge AM Basheer, also included a three-year imprisonment for her uncle, Nirmal Kumar, for destroying evidence.
Premeditated Crime
The court found Greeshma guilty of multiple charges, including murder (Section 302 of the IPC), abduction with intent to murder (Section 364), administering poison (Section 328), and destroying evidence (Section 201). Her mother, initially accused, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
In his ruling, Judge Basheer emphasized the deliberate and deceptive nature of the crime. “This being a case of murder by administration of poison, Greeshma has done it in utmost secrecy. She chose the time when her parents and uncle were away from home. Sharon had told PW2 that Greeshma asked him to go there for sex. She had convinced him last night by a lengthy call about their meeting. She took him into confidence with ulterior motives. Her preparations for the commission of the offence were secret and deceitful,” he stated.
A Tragic Love Story
The relationship between Greeshma and Sharon began during their college years in Kanyakumari but soured after her family arranged her marriage to another man. According to the prosecution, Greeshma conspired with her mother and uncle to end the relationship and eliminate Sharon. On October 14, 2022, she invited him to her residence, offering him an Ayurvedic tonic laced with the deadly herbicide paraquat.
Sharon’s health deteriorated over the following days, leading to his death on October 25, 2022, due to multiple organ failure. “He underwent treatment for 11 days. On a perusal of medical records, it is discernible that he could not even drink a drop of water for days. All his internal organs failed due to ingestion of paraquat,” the court noted.
A Crime Uncovered by Science
The case relied heavily on digital and forensic evidence. “The God in the cloud saved the data of the crime coupled with the scientific principle of Dr. Edmond Locard that no one can leave the place of crime without leaving a trace of evidence,” Judge Basheer remarked, highlighting how Greeshma’s mobile phone and cloud storage provided crucial leads.
The Sentencing
During sentencing, Special Public Prosecutor VS Vineethkumar described the crime as “extremely brutal, grotesque, diabolical, and revolting,” urging the court to impose the death penalty. Defense counsel Sasthamangalam S Ajith Kumar argued for leniency, citing Greeshma’s young age, clean record, and family responsibilities.
However, the judge deemed it a “rarest of rare” case, meriting the harshest punishment. “The brutality of the crime, combined with the victim’s prolonged suffering, makes life imprisonment inadequate,” the court observed.
The judgment has sparked discussions across Kerala, with many hailing the decision as a strong message against premeditated and heinous crimes.
Case: State of Kerala vs Greeshma & Ors – Available on LAWFYI.IO
