The Palakkad Additional Sessions Court in Kerala on Monday, 20 July 2025, sentenced Chenthamara to death for the Nenmara double murder, ruling that the convict posed a continuing threat to society and showed no credible prospect of reformation. The verdict closes the trial in one of Kerala's most gruesome revenge killings in recent memory.

What the Court Ruled

The court, after hearing detailed arguments from both the prosecution and the defence, held that the case fell squarely within the rarest of rare category — the threshold required under Indian law for capital punishment. The prosecution had pressed for the maximum sentence, citing the extreme brutality of the crime and the conduct of the accused.

Crucially, the court cited Chenthamara's own statements as evidence of irredeemability. In recorded remarks, the convict had declared: 'I am not Gandhi' — adding that if released, he would kill again. He further stated, 'I will not go looking for trouble. But if someone comes at me, I will not spare them.' The court found these declarations to be a clear and present danger to society.

Why the Court Rejected Reformation Claims

Although a court-directed counselling report indicated that the accused had subsequently spoken in a different tone, the court found no convincing evidence of genuine remorse or reformation. Psychological and psychiatric evaluations had clearly established that Chenthamara did not suffer from any mental illness, ruling out any plea of mental incapacity.

The court also rejected the accused's contention that the murders were committed in response to provocation, observing categorically that there had been no provocation from the victims. While Chenthamara reportedly expressed regret before the defence counsel over the plight of the daughter of one of the victims, Sudhakaran, the court held that this did not amount to repentance for the killings themselves.

The District Probation Officer's report further concluded that the convict was likely to reoffend. The court also noted that the murders were committed while Chenthamara was out on bail — a fact it described as demonstrating complete disregard for the law.

Compensation Ordered for Victim's Family

Monday's judgment directed that ₹20 lakh be paid to the daughter of Sudhakaran, to be realised from the sale of the convict's property. The court held that Sudhakaran's children continued to face a threat from the accused, further reinforcing the decision to impose capital punishment.

Background: A Vendetta That Began in 2019

Chenthamara was convicted for the murders of Sudhakaran and his 75-year-old mother, Lakshmi, at Pothundi in Palakkad district on 27 January 2025. The killings were the culmination of a long-running vendetta that originated in 2019, when Chenthamara hacked to death his neighbour Sajitha, whom he blamed for the breakdown of his marriage.

A key witness, Pushpa, who had been forced to flee her home in Palakkad to Tamil Nadu out of fear of the accused, expressed relief at the verdict, saying she could now consider returning home. The death sentence, if upheld on appeal, would mark the culmination of a case that has shaken the Palakkad district for over six years.