Chenthamara gets death sentence in Pothundy double murder case
A Palakkad court has sentenced Chenthamara to death for the 2025 double murder of a mother and son, classifying the crime as 'rarest of rare.' The convict, who was already serving a life sentence for a previous murder, was found guilty based on premeditated intent and lack of remorse.
Why it matters
The case underscores the application of the death penalty in India under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) legal framework.
Additional District and Sessions Court-IV, Palakkad, on Monday (July 20, 2026) sentenced Chenthamara, the lone convict in the Pothundy double murder case, to death by hanging. The court held that the case fell under the “rarest of rare” category. The sentence is subject to confirmation by the High Court.
Judge Kenneth George also imposed a fine of ₹20 lakh and directed that it be paid as compensation to the victims’ children. As Chenthamara has no means to pay, the court directed the State to provide the compensation.
The court had found Chenthamara guilty of murdering Sudhakaran, 50, and his 75-year-old mother, Lakshmi, who were hacked to death at their home at Boyan Colony, Pothundy, near Nemmara, on January 27, 2025. He was convicted under Sections 103(1) and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The sentence came about 18 months after the crime.
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