The Supreme Court suspended the life imprisonment sentence of Anu Shanthi, convicted in the 2014 Attingal double murder case. The Court granted her bail pending the appeal against her conviction.
Supreme Court’s Decision
A bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan granted bail, stating, “The appellant is entitled to suspension of sentence and bail pending final disposal of the appeal.” The Kerala High Court had earlier confirmed her life sentence.
Case Background
On April 16, 2014, Anu Shanthi’s mother-in-law and three-year-old daughter were murdered at their home in Attingal, Kerala. The prosecution argued that the murders were planned by Anu Shanthi and her co-conspirator, Nino Mathew, to remove obstacles to their relationship.
Kerala High Court’s Ruling
The High Court upheld the conviction of both accused under Section 302 of the IPC. While Anu Shanthi received life imprisonment, Mathew, who executed the murders, was initially sentenced to death. The court later commuted his death penalty to life imprisonment without remission for 25 years, citing mitigating factors.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s suspension of Anu Shanthi’s sentence provides her temporary relief as the appeal continues. The case highlights complex legal and emotional challenges in criminal justice proceedings.
