Uthra Snakebite Case: Man Gets Double Life Imprisonment For Murder Of Wife

Uthra snakebite case: In an extraordinary case from Kollam in Kerala, a man was sentenced to double life imprisonment on Wednesday for the murder of his wife by inducing a snakebite. The order passed by a court in Kerala held him guilty of poisoning and killing his 25-year-old wife last year. Certain reports claim this case is the first of its kind in the country, wherein an accused using an animal for wilful murder has been found guilty.

The victim, Uthra, died in 2020 following two consecutive cases of poisoning. According to The News Minute, a viper bit her the first time, when she was living at her husband Sooraj and his parents' house. When she was recuperating at her parents' place from the first snakebite, a second snake - this time, a cobra - bit her, leading to her death in May.

Uthra's parents raised a complaint with the police when their daughter died, asking for an investigation into two successive snakebites. They alleged dowry harassment on the part of Sooraj and his family. The chargesheet prepared in the case reportedly revealed Sooraj had planned the incidents. More here.

Sooraj's family members, including his parents, were also arrested after gold belonging to Uthra was found buried under their residence, as per Live Law. 

Uthra Snakebite Case First Of Its Kind In The State: What You Should Know

The Kollam court which pronounced the judgment finding Sooraj guilty also slapped a fine of five lakh rupees on him and awarded him jail time of 10 and seven years in two cases related to Uthra's murder. Local reports suggest Uthra's mother is unhappy with the imprisonment order and was expecting the death penalty for Sooraj.

"No parent should go through what we did," New Indian Express quoted her saying. Uthra's family said her mother was the first to flag something suspicious behind a snake biting her daughter the first time, but no one believed her.

An elaborate probe into the case, with the involvement of experts, showed that the viper and cobra could not have climbed such heights as Uthra was at during the times she was bitten. A dummy animal was reportedly also used to prove the claims.

Uthra and Sooraj were married in 2018 and had one child together. The deceased reportedly had some learning disabilities and Sooraj's plan was to marry and then eliminate her for her wealth. Sooraj admitted to storing two starving snakes that he could throw on his wife as planned. The snake supplier who gave the reptile to Sooraj was arrested but said he was not aware of the motive behind the purchases.

Image: The News Minute

Trending now: