Man found guilty of electrocuting wife to death awarded life imprisonment

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The court has sentenced 29-year-old Arun to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh for electrocuting his 51-year-old wife Shakha Kumari to death. The accused was an employee of a private hospital. The Neyyattinkara additional district court awarded him life sentence.

Shakha Kumari, daughter of Philomina of Kunnathukal Village, Plankala Puthen Veettil, Thresyapuram was murdered on December 26 in 2020 at 1.30 am. Arun killed her by smothering and electrocuting her. A defective serial bulb set was also scattered over her body. Though Arun had tried to pass off the death as natural after claiming she was found unconscious in her residence, the autopsy report revealed that Shakha was electrocuted. Arun is a native of Pathamkallu.

The police found that Arun, an electrician, killed his wife according to a pre-planned plan. Shakha Kumari, who had decided not to get married and was living alone, fell in love with Arun and then married him. He was enchanted by her wealth. Her desire to have a child to inherit her property made her marry him. The two got married on October 29 in 2020.

Arun married her without his family’s knowledge. Even before marriage, Arun had bought a car and a bike with her money and lived a luxurious life. His intention was to get hold of her wealth after her death. The case was investigated by M Sreekumar, the then Vellarada Police Inspector.