Bhaskara Karanavar murder: First accused Sherin to be released, Governor’s nod to remit sentence 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Governor has given permission to remit the life sentence of Sherin, the first accused in the Bhaskara Karanavar murder case. The remission was granted on the grounds of family and humanitarian considerations. Sherin was included in the first list given by the state government to the Governor for remission of sentence for prisoners. However, the Governor had returned list without giving permission.

Sherin's frequent parole and clashes with fellow prisoners were the initial setbacks. Even after the government's recommendation, she created problems in the prison. Following this, the Raj Bhavan introduced a form detailing the crime, sentence, availability of parole, and behavior in prison of each prisoner on the list. The government filled this form along with the recommendation and filed it again. The report said the approval was given then. Now, along with Sherin, the Governor has given permission for remission of sentence of eleven other prisoners.

The cabinet meeting initially decided to grant leniency to Sherin after she had completed 14 years of her sentence. However, there was widespread criticism against this. The accusation was that a member of the cabinet was helping Sherin. There was also a rumor that the minister had helped her to get continuous paroles.

Bhaskara Karanavar was murdered by his son's wife Sherin in November 2009. The plan for the murder was hatched when Karanavar came to know about her illicit relationships and love affairs. Karanavar, who had returned from the United States, was strangled to death in his sleep. Apart from Sherin, the court had also sentenced Basith Ali, Nithin alias Unni and Shanu Rasheed to life imprisonment in the case.

The verdict in the Karanavar murder case was delivered on June 11 in 2010. The Mavelikkara fast-track court sentenced Sherin to life imprisonment and sent her to Poojappura Central Jail on June 11. She was later shifted to Neyyattinkara Women's Jail. She was then sent to Viyyur Central Jail in March 2015 as part of disciplinary action after found her use of mobile phone illegally. Allowing her to use an umbrella by the prison doctor to protect her from the sun had sparked a controversy. There was also a complaint that she had threatened the prison officials. In March 2017, she was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Women's Jail. She is presently in Kannur Central Jail.

Sherin was the first woman prisoner in the state to obtain parole among life-sentenced women prisoners. She was granted 444 days of parole 22 times in six years. 345 days of regular parole between March 2012 and January this year. 92 days of emergency parole from August 2012 to October 2017. She was granted one week of emergency parole from the high court.