Soumya murder case: SC rejects petition filed by Kerala Govt

In 2016, the Supreme Court had refused to confirm capital punishment to Govindachamy but upheld his life sentence in the rape and murder case of 23-year-old Soumya.

The Supreme Court on Friday has rejected Kerala government's appeal for the death sentence to the convict in connection with Soumya murder case that shook the conscience of Kerala.

A six-judge Bench of the Supreme Court heard the curative petition filed by the Government of Kerala. The Bench was headed by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar. Besides Justices Ranjan Gogoi, PC Pant and UU Lalit, who had heard the case and passed the judgement, the Bench also comprised Justices Dipak Misra and J Chelameswar.

In 2016, the Supreme Court had refused to confirm capital punishment to Govindachamy but upheld his life sentence in the rape and murder case of 23-year-old Soumya. The fast track court in Trichur (Kerala) had pronounced death sentence for the accused Govindachamy who had raped and murdered Soumya while she was travelling in a passenger train from Ernakulam to Shornur.

The incident happened on Feb 1, 2011 when Soumya was brutally murdered while on her way back from Kochi to her home in Shornur. Govindachamy is understood to have forcibly entered the ladies compartment in the passenger train and in failing to rob her, pushed her out of the moving train and raped her on the tracks. She was grievously injured at the time of rape. Soumya was admitted to the intensive care at the Trichur Medical College only to succumb to her injuries.

OneIndia News