In a landmark judgment, the Neyyattinkara Additional District Sessions Court in Kerala sentenced 24-year-old S.S. Greeshma to death for the 2022 premeditated murder of her boyfriend, Sharon Raj. The verdict, delivered by Judge A.M. Basheer on January 20, 2025, also included multiple prison terms and fines under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Greeshma was convicted of poisoning 23-year-old Sharon, a native of Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram, by lacing an Ayurvedic tonic with pesticide. The court observed that the crime was a calculated act of betrayal, emphasizing the severity and premeditation involved.
On October 14, 2022, Sharon visited Greeshma at her residence, where she served him the poisoned tonic. Despite feeling suspicious, Sharon consumed the drink and recorded a video of it, which later became key evidence. He succumbed to organ failure 11 days later, following a prolonged battle for his life in the ICU.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Greeshma, while in a long-term relationship with Sharon, was simultaneously engaged to another man. She reportedly resorted to murder after Sharon refused to end their relationship.
Sharon’s statement to a magistrate before his death and forensic evidence confirming pesticide in the tonic were crucial in securing the conviction. The police, led by then-Superintendent of Police Shilpa, submitted a charge sheet on January 25, 2023. The trial began on October 15, 2024, with testimony from 95 witnesses, and concluded on January 3, 2025.
The court sentenced Greeshma to death and imposed a fine of ₹2 lakh under Section 302 (murder). Additional penalties included:
10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a ₹1 lakh fine under Section 364 (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder).
5 years of imprisonment and a ₹50,000 fine under Section 328 (causing harm using poison).
2 years of imprisonment under Section 203 (destruction of evidence or providing false information).
Greeshma’s uncle, Nirmalakumaran Nair, was sentenced to three years of imprisonment under Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) for aiding in covering up the crime. Her mother, Sindhu, was acquitted due to lack of evidence.
The court dismissed Greeshma’s plea for leniency, which cited her academic achievements and young age, stating that the gravity of the crime outweighed mitigating factors. Judge Basheer noted, “The act of inviting Sharon under false pretenses and subsequently committing the crime shows a calculated and premeditated intention.”
The judgment also highlighted Greeshma’s betrayal of trust and refuted her allegations of physical abuse by Sharon as baseless. The court praised Sharon’s commitment to their relationship, contrasting it with Greeshma’s duplicity.
