Pothundy double murder case: a death penalty verdict with rare focus on rehabilitating victims’ family

Published 20 July 2026 · politics

The 132-page judgment in the Pothundy double murder case has broken new ground by directing measures for the rehabilitation of the orphaned children of the

The 132-page judgment in the Pothundy double murder case has broken new ground by directing measures for the rehabilitation of the orphaned children of the victims, even as it awarded the death penalty to the lone convict Chenthamara. Additional District and Sessions Court-IV Judge Kenneth George, while sentencing Chenthamara to be hanged till death, directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Palakkad, to initiate rehabilitation measures for Akhila and Athulya, the daughters of murdered Sudhakaran. The court ordered that ₹20 lakh compensation be provided to the victims’ family and directed the DLSA to recover the amount from the convict if he has the means to pay.

As Chenthamara is unlikely to be able to pay the amount, the government has been directed to provide the compensation. The judgment also recommended that the government consider additional rehabilitation measures for Akhila, who appeared as a prosecution witness in the case. Legal experts said such a specific direction for the rehabilitation of victims’ children was rare in criminal judgments. deputy director of prosecution P. Premnath said the direction reflected the court’s recognition of the long-term impact of the crime on the victims’ family. “The direction for rehabilitating the victim’s children is rare in such judgments and deserves appreciation,” he said.

‘Ensure safety’ The judgment also directed authorities to ensure the safety of the victims’ relatives, neighbours and prosecution witnesses if Chenthamara is released on parole in the future. The court observed that in the event of parole, “adequate and effective measures” should be taken to protect the life and property of the surviving relatives of Sajitha, Sudhakaran and Lakshmi, as well as their neighbours, including witnesses in the case. The directions come against the backdrop of allegations that police failed to act on complaints from Sudhakaran’s family about threats from Chenthamara and his violation of bail conditions before the murders.

Premnath said the court’s emphasis on rehabilitation and protection indirectly reflected the seriousness of the lapses that preceded the crime. “The police, and therefore the government, were partly responsible for the tragedy, as timely action could have prevented the murders,” he said.