[Uthra Murder] Kerala High Court notice to State on appeal by husband Suraj against conviction

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the State in an appeal preferred by Suraj S Kumar who was convicted by the trial court for murdering his 25 year old wife, Uthra, by inducing a cobra bite [Suraj S Kumar v State of Kerala]..A Division Bench of Justices K Vinod Chandran and C Jayachandran issued notice in the appeal challenging the conviction for offences under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to commit murder), 328 (causing hurt by poison) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) of the Indian Penal Code..On October 13, the Additional Sessions Court, Kollam, presided by Judge Manoj M had pronounced the sentence in this unique case, where the husband was accused of murder by throwing a starving cobra on to his sleeping wife to induce death by snakebite.The trial court sentenced Suraj to double life imprisonment and a fine of ₹ 5 lakh for murdering his wife as well as to 10 years and 7 years imprisonment for causing hurt by means of poison and destroying evidence.The media attention and public outcry had led to demands for the death penalty, a prayer which was also raised by the prosecution led by Special Public Prosecutor G Mohanraj.However, the Sessions Court had declined to grant the same, taking into consideration the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court and the mitigating circumstances such as the young age of the accused and his lack of criminal antecedents..Subsequently, Uthra's family approached the High Court challenging the trial court's decision to not grant the death penalty. The case has not been taken up yet. .The case had garnered a lot of attention due to the manner in which the murder was committed.In fact, it was the second such attempt on her life. Uthra had survived the first attempt in which a Viper snake was used.After she died due to the second snake bite in May 2020, Uthra's family filed a police complaint alleging foul play and dowry harassment.The investigation subsequently led to a snake handler who had sold two snakes to Suraj for ₹10,000. Both the snake handler and Sooraj were arrested soon thereafter.Later, Suraj's family members were also booked for various offences punishable under the Indian Penal Code for domestic violence and conspiracy among others.Subsequently, Suraj confessed to the crime stating that the motive was to make financial gains.