Palakkad double murder case: Convict Chenthamara gets death penalty

Chenthamara, the accused in the sensational Nenmara double murder case | Photo Credit: K K Mustafah The Additional District and Sessions Court-IV, Palakkad, on Monday (July 20, 2026) sentenced Chenthamara, the lone convict in the Pothundy twin murder case in Kerala, to death by hanging, holding that the case fell under the “rarest of rare” category.Judge Kenneth George also imposed a fine of ₹20 lakh, which the court directed to be paid to the orphaned daughters of the victims. As Chenthamara has no means to pay the amount, the court directed the State to provide the compensation.The court had earlier found Chenthamara guilty of murdering Sudhakaran, 50, and his 75-year-old mother, Lakshmi, who were hacked to death at their house at Boyan Colony, Pothundy, near Nenmara, on January 27, 2025.In its sentencing order, the court accepted the prosecution’s case that the murders were premeditated and that Chenthamara posed a continuing threat to society.The court cited his lack of remorse, repeated justification of the killings and threats against the victims’ family. The court also found that he was mentally stable. It rejected the defence claim that psychological distress warranted a lesser sentence.The court referred to Chenthamara’s statement during trial that “I am not Gandhi” and that he would act in retribution, observing that he had consistently sought to justify the murders. It also rejected as baseless the claim that he had consumed poison after committing the crime.The prosecution had argued that Chenthamara was beyond reform and did not deserve mercy. It said he remained a threat to the victims’ family, witnesses and society.The defence opposed the death penalty, relying on a mitigation report prepared by the District Legal Services Authority and arguing that the possibility of reform could not be ruled out. The court rejected those contentions.The court also took note of Chenthamara’s earlier conviction for the murder of Sudhakaran’s wife, Sajitha. 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 developed hostility towards Sudhakaran’s family after blaming them for his wife and daughter leaving him. He later came to believe that Sudhakaran’s family had used black magic against him.While out on bail in the Sajitha murder case, Chenthamara returned to Pothundy violating bail conditions and hacked Sudhakaran and Lakshmi to death on January 27, 2025. Police arrested him the following day after a search operation in the nearby hills.The murders left Sudhakaran and Sajitha’s two daughters orphaned and triggered criticism of the police after relatives alleged that repeated complaints about Chenthamara’s threats and violation of bail conditions had gone unheeded.During the trial, the prosecution examined 81 witnesses and relied on scientific and other evidence to secure Chenthamara’s conviction.“We are happy with the sentence. But our happiness is nothing compared to the loss suffered by Sudhakaran’s two daughters,” said N. Muraleedharan, DySP who investigated the case. Published - July 20, 2026 12:30 pm IST