Rarest of rare case: Kerala woman sentenced to death for poisoning boyfriend to death for not ending relation
PTC Web Desk: In a chilling case that shocked Kerala, a Neyyattinkara Sessions Court on Monday sentenced 24-year-old Greeshma to death for murdering her boyfriend, Sharon Raj, nearly two years after the premeditated crime. The court described it as a "rarest of rare" case, warranting the severest punishment to deter such heinous acts.
In October 2022, Greeshma, a BSc Radiology student, poisoned her 23-year-old boyfriend Sharon with a concoction laced with paraquat, a toxic herbicide. The poison was mixed into an ayurvedic tonic, which she gave him under the pretense of care. Sharon consumed the drink and suffered severe symptoms, including incessant vomiting and mouth sores, eventually succumbing to multiple organ failure 11 days later.
The motive for the murder was Greeshma's desire to end her romantic relationship with Sharon after her marriage was arranged to an Army officer from Tamil Nadu. Despite multiple attempts to break off the relationship, Sharon refused, prompting her to plot the murder.
Greeshma had earlier attempted to poison Sharon by mixing paracetamol in fruit juice, but her plan failed when Sharon rejected the drink due to its bitter taste.
Presiding Judge AM Basheer rejected Greeshma's plea for leniency, which cited her young age, academic achievements, and clean criminal record. The court noted that Sharon’s murder was unprovoked, meticulously planned, and executed in cold blood, making it a rarest of rare case deserving the death penalty.
Greeshma’s uncle, Nirmalakumaran Nair, was convicted of destroying evidence and sentenced to three years in prison. Her mother, Sindhu, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
Greeshma is the youngest woman in Kerala to be sentenced to death. She is also the second woman in the state to face capital punishment. The first was Binitha, sentenced in 2006 for conspiring with her lover to murder businessman Vidhukumaran Thampi. However, her death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
The second case involved Rafeeka Beevi, convicted in 2024 for murdering an elderly woman, Santhakumari, to steal her gold ornaments. Both Rafeeka and her co-accused, Al Ameen and Shafiq, received death sentences.
The victim's family, devastated by the loss, welcomed the court’s decision, hoping it would serve as a precedent to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Timeline of the crime
October 2021: Greeshma and Sharon met on a bus ride and began their relationship.
March 2022: Greeshma’s arranged marriage to an Army officer was finalised.
October 14, 2022: Greeshma administered the poisoned drink to Sharon, leading to his rapid health decline.
October 25, 2022: Sharon succumbed to multiple organ failure in the hospital.
2023-2024: The trial took place, leading to Monday’s verdict.
- With inputs from agencies
