Sharon Raj murder case: Kerala court awards death sentence to Greeshma

Death sentence awarded to S.S. Greeshma for poisoning murder in Neyyattinkara, Kerala; rigorous imprisonment for accomplice, praised police investigation.

The Additional District Sessions Court in Neyyattinkara, Kerala, on Monday (January 20, 2025) awarded death sentence to S.S. Greeshma for murdering Sharon Raj by poisoning him with a poison-laced Ayurvedic tonic three years ago. She has also been imposed a fine of ₹2 lakh.

Judge A.M. Basheer also sentenced her to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh under Section 364 (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder), five years and a fine of ₹50,000 under Section 328 (causing harm to a person using poison or other harmful substances) and two years under Section 203 (destruction of evidence, or providing false information to protect an offender from legal punishment) of the Indian Penal Code.

Greeshma’s uncle Nirmalakumaran Nair, the third accused in the case, was sentenced to three years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹50,000. The fine amounts, if realised, should be provided to Sharon’s parents as compensation, the court ruled.

Notably, the court also included the offence under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code, considering the earlier attempts made by Greeshma to feed Sharon juices that were laced in paracetamol tablets.

The court, in its 586-page judgment, commended the police for the investigation that made good use of scientific evidence. It also accepted the prosecution’s contention that the case met the criteria of being “the rarest of the rare”.

The court also rejected that contentions put forth by the defence seeking leniency for Greeshma. It observed that her young age could not be deemed a mitigating factor in determining her punishment, given the gravity of the crime. Besides, Greeshma’s lack of criminal antecedents too was not considered relevant in this case.