Palakkad: Man Sentenced To Death In 2025 Nenmara Double Murder Case
Palakkad Additional Sessions Judge Kenneth George sentenced Chenthamara to death and imposed a fine of Rs 20 lakh for murdering his neighbour Sudhakaran and his mother, Lakshmi, at Pothundi near Nenmara on January 27, 2025.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A court in Palakkad, Kerala, on Monday sentenced hardened criminal Chenthamara to death in connection with the Nenmara twin murder case of 2025.
The Palakkad Sessions Court also imposed a fine of Rs 20 lakh, to be shared equally between the victims’ daughters and their relatives. Chenthamara, 61, had brutally hacked Sudhakaran and his mother Lakshmi to death at their home in Pothundi, Nenmara, in January 2025. He was found guilty of the crime four days earlier.
The murders took place while Chenthamara was out on bail for the killing of Sudhakaran’s wife, Sajitha.
The verdict followed detailed arguments from both sides, with the court describing the case as “rarest of the rare.”
If Chenthamara fails to pay, the government must step in. If the fine remains unpaid, he’ll face three years in prison. The court noted that psychological and psychiatric evaluations confirmed he had no mental illness.
In court, Chenthamara often behaved erratically, even declaring, “I am not Gandhi to turn the other cheek if slapped. If needed, I will kill more,” ignoring his lawyer’s advice to stay calm. The court took this as proof of his violent nature. While the motive was claimed to be provocation, it ruled the victims had done nothing to provoke him.
The murders happened while he was out on bail, breaking bail conditions, and reports suggested he was likely to reoffend. Witnesses confirmed the killings were planned. The court rejected the defence’s claim that the poison found at his home was for suicide due to stress, concluding instead that he posed a danger to society and should be sentenced to death.
On January 27, Chenthāmara brutally killed his neighbor Sudhakaran and his mother Lakshmi, sparking a two-day search in the nearby hills involving police and locals. He was arrested on January 28 in the Pothundi Mattayi forest area.
On February 5, authorities gathered evidence at Elavancheri, where the murder weapon had been bought. His bail from a previous case—the 2019 murder of Sajitha—was revoked on February 18 after he violated conditions following his 2022 release.
On March 3, confidential witness statements were recorded at the Chittur Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, and by March 25 a 480-page charge sheet had been filed, listing 132 witnesses, over 30 documents, and forensic evidence. The trial ran from February 23 to May 6, with four witnesses turning hostile.
The court concluded that Chenthāmara showed no remorse and remained a threat to society, making the death penalty inevitable.
Public Prosecutor Adv. M. J. Vijayakumar expressed great satisfaction that the accused Chenthāmara received the deserved punishment. The court treated the incident as a “rarest of the rare” case.
He noted that the verdict was possible due to the cooperation of police and prosecution witnesses. The court completely rejected the defense arguments. It considered factors such as the rehabilitation of the children, the accused’s character, and the manner in which the murders were committed. The court found the crime to be premeditated and carried out without provocation.
As per the court’s direction, a board confirmed that the accused had no mental illness.
The prosecution had sought the death penalty, and though the accused attempted to show remorse afterward, the court rejected it. The court also ruled that witness Girish’s altered testimony was false.
With the sentencing of Chenthāmara in the Nenmara double murder case, he has become the 38th person on death row in the state. Currently, 37 prisoners are awaiting death across Kerala; Poojappura Central Jail – 24 prisoners, Viyyur Jail – 4, Kannur Jail – 3, Tavanur Jail – 1, Viyyur High-Security Jail – 2, and Thiruvananthapuram Women’s Jail – 3.
