Thiruvananthapuram: A court in Kerala on Friday convicted the prime accused, Greeshma, in the murder case of her boyfriend, Sharon Raj, a native of Parassala in the district, in 2022.
Greeshma was found guilty of kidnapping, murder by poisoning, and misleading the police. The Neyyattinkara Additional District Sessions Court also found her uncle, Nirmalakumaran Nair, guilty of destroying evidence. Greeshma’s mother, Sindhu, the second accused, was acquitted due to a lack of evidence.
Sessions Court Judge A M Basheer, who delivered the verdict, stated that the quantum of the sentence would be pronounced on Saturday. Greeshma was found guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 302 (murder), while her uncle was convicted under Section 201 of the IPC. After being found guilty, Greeshma was taken to Attakulangara Jail after a medical examination.
Greeshma had invited Sharan Raj, then 23, to their house and killed him by mixing poison in a decoction. The murder was committed after a year and a half of their relationship.
Sharon's brother Shimon Raj said he was completely satisfied with the court's verdict. "I will respond further after the sentence is pronounced. The murder was planned and executed for six months. It was expected that Greeshma's mother would also be punished. The case was proven through scientific evidence," added Shimon Raj.
Sharon's parents said that Greeshma's mother was also guilty. "They also committed the murder together. Her mother should have been punished too. The sentence will be issued tomorrow, and after that, we will consider approaching the (Kerala) High Court. We hope that Greeshma will be given the maximum punishment," Sharon's parents said.
Former Crime Branch DySP KJ Johnson, who was the investigating officer, said, "It was a complex case. There were many challenges. The investigation was successful after following scientific evidence. Strong evidence was presented against all three accused. The rest will be decided in consultation with the prosecutor. There was even a doubt whether the murder took place in Kerala or Tamil Nadu."
Special Public Prosecutor Vineeth Kumar said, "Even though Raj was killed by poison, the fact that the poison could not be found on his clothes or body was a big challenge. The case was proven through scientific evidence, observations by expert doctors, circumstantial evidence, and statements. All available evidence was presented."
Sharon and Greeshma had been in love for years. In the meantime, Greeshma received another marriage proposal and confirmed it. With this, Greeshma was planning to get rid of Sharon. First, a juice challenge was conducted. The first attempt was to make Sharon drink juice mixed with paracetamol. Although he felt unwell, Sharon survived that day. Later, Greeshma mixed the decoction with insecticide on October 14, 2022.
Sharon, who fell ill after consuming this, was immediately admitted to the hospital. Sharon was treated for 11 days. Sharon succumbed to internal organ failure and died.
Sharon did not say anything against Greeshma in his death statement given to the magistrate. However, the prosecution argued that Sharon had told his friend and father that Greeshma had cheated on him. The scientific evidence handed over by the forensic doctor to the special team appointed after Sharon's death was crucial in the case. When the police later called her in and questioned her, Greeshma confessed to the crime. Greeshma's mother Sindhu and uncle Nirmala Kumaran Nair were accused in the case for destroying evidence.
Greeshma had attempted suicide while in police custody. Greeshma was later released on bail after spending a year in jail. The police filed the chargesheet in the case on January 25, 2023. The chargesheet was filed after the Kerala High Court rejected the plea of the accused that the trial could not be held in Kerala. The trial, which began on October 15, 2024, ended on January 3, 2025. The court examined 95 witnesses in the case.
