Kamal Shah commits suicide in central prison

Puducherry, Apr 21 (UNI) Kamal Shah, a life convict in the sensational Parvathy Shah murder case in 1999, allegedly committed suicide in the central prison here today.

Senior officials rushed to the prison and his body was to be taken to the Government General Hospital later.

On the night of July 14, 1999, Kamal Sha sexually assaulted Parvathy Shah, the wife of his elder brother Ravi Sha and killed her by smashing her head with a wooden club. Ravi Shah was with his father Premchand Shah, who was admitted to the Ashram hospital following a heart attack on the same night.

After committing the crime, Kamal Sha enacted a drama as if a masked gang entered their house and murdered Parvathy Shah. He had inflicted an injury on his stomach to substantiate his claim.

Police admitted him to the Government General Hospital for treatment.

After visiting the house, police suspected foul play as they found that the undergarments of the deceased were removed and thrown out. They were recovered later and on examination, it was proved that Parvathy Shah was sexually assaulted.

Police took Kamal Shah into custody for interrogation and he confessed to committing the crime and was arrested on July 20, 1999.

On August 29, 2000, the then principal district and sessions judge E V Kumar convicted and sentenced Kamal Shah to death and his mother Padmavathy Shah to life for supporting Kamal Shah and hiding the facts.

Later on April 24, 2001 on an appeal, the Madras High Court reduced the sentence of Kamal Shah to life and that of Padmavathy Shah to two and a half years and both were lodged in the central prison here. Subsequently, Padmavathi Shah died following illness.

Ravi Shah was declared as a proclaimed offender and is yet to be traced.

UNI PAB PK HT2040