Potthunda twin murder: prosecution seeks death penalty for Chenthamar

Chenthamara, an accused in the Pothunda twins murder case, was escorted to Additional District and Sessions Court IV in Palakkad on Wednesday. | Photo credit: KK Mustafah

Another District and Sessions Court-IV, Palakkad, will pronounce sentence on Thursday (July 16, 2026) for Chenthamar, convicted in the Pothunda double murder case.

Judge Kenneth George will hand down the sentence after considering a mitigation report submitted by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA).

A post-conviction mitigation report helps the court determine an appropriate sentence by assessing the personal, social and psychological circumstances of the convicted person, particularly in cases where the death penalty is being considered.

Viyyur Jail

Chenthamara, lodged in Malampuzha District Jail, will appear before the court through video conferencing on Thursday. He is expected to be shifted to Viyyur Central Jail after the sentencing.

The prosecution on Wednesday sought the death penalty, arguing that the killings were premeditated and that Chenthamara posed a continuing threat to society.

Prosecutor MJ Vijayakumar described Chenthamar as a habitual offender with little prospect of rehabilitation and argued that he was likely to commit further serious crimes if released. The prosecution also said that key witnesses, neighbors and relatives of the victims continue to face threats from him, making the death penalty necessary in the interest of public safety.

Defense attorney Jacob Mathew opposed the plea, arguing that the conviction was based on circumstantial evidence alone, with no eyewitnesses to the crime.

He claimed that investigators considered Chenthamar the prime suspect from the beginning and questioned the evaluation of the evidence. Citing the judgments of the Bihar and Rajasthan High Courts, the defense argued that the possibility of reform should not be ruled out.

Chenthamara showed no visible emotion in court. Asked if he had anything to say before sentencing, he replied: “I have nothing to say. Hang me if you want. I am not Gandhi.”

Incident

The case relates to the murders of Sudhakaran (50) and his 75-year-old mother Lakshmi, who were hacked to death at their house in Boyan Colony, Pothundy, near Nenmara, in Palakkad on January 27, 2025.

According to the investigation, Chenthamara believed that Sudhakaran’s family was responsible for his wife and daughter leaving him and was under the illusion that they had used black magic against him.

The prosecution secured a conviction based on the testimony of 81 witnesses and 30 pieces of scientific evidence. He also relied on the statement that the accused had threatened to wipe out Sudhakaran’s family before the murders, the testimony of a shopkeeper who sold the machete allegedly used in the attack, and the statements of his wife Vilasini, neighbor Pushpa and other witnesses. Chenthamara denied all the allegations.

He had earlier been sentenced by the same court to two life sentences and a fine of ₹3.25 million for the murder of Sudhakaran’s wife Sajitha in 2019. After being released on bail, he killed Sudhakaran and Lakshmi.

Investigators found that Chenthamara developed enmity towards Sajitha’s family after an astrologer allegedly told him that a “long-haired woman” was responsible for the breakup of his family. The three murders made Sudhakaran and Sajitha’s two daughters orphans.

The case also drew criticism from the police. Relatives claimed they had repeatedly warned authorities about Chenthamar’s threats to kill Sudhakaran’s family while he was staying in Pothundy in violation of his bail conditions. They claimed that the police’s failure to act on these warnings contributed to the double murder.

Sudhakaran’s daughters are demanding the death penalty for the convict, saying they fear for their safety if Chenthamara is released.

Published – 15 Jul 2026 20:41 IST