Pranay Murder Case: Telangana Court Sentences One To Death, Six To Life Imprisonment
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on Subhash Kumar Sharma and Rs 10,000 each on the other six convicts.
In a shocking case of honour killing, a fast-track court in Nalgonda district has delivered its verdict in the 2018 murder of P Pranay Kumar in Miryalaguda, Telangana, sentencing the key accused to death and awarding life imprisonment to six others.
On Monday, the SC/ST Sessions Second Additional Court sentenced Subhash Kumar Sharma (A2) to death for his role in the brutal murder. The remaining six accused—Azgar Ali (A3), Abdul Bhari (A4), Kareem (A5), Shiva (A6), Nadeem (A7), and Umer (A8)—were sentenced to life imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on Sharma and Rs 10,000 each on the other six convicts.
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The prime accused, T. Maruthi Rao (A1), father of Pranay’s wife, Amrutha, died by suicide in March 2020 while the case was under investigation.
CASE BACKGROUND
The murder, which took place on 14 September 2018, was a contract killing orchestrated by Maruthi Rao, a wealthy businessman, who vehemently opposed his daughter Amrutha’s inter-caste marriage to Pranay, a Dalit man. Unable to accept their union, he hired a contract killing gang, led by Azgar Ali, and paid Rs 1 crore to eliminate Pranay. The murder, executed in broad daylight outside a hospital where Amrutha had a routine pregnancy check-up, was captured on CCTV footage, triggering nationwide outrage.
At the time of the incident, Amrutha was pregnant with Pranay’s child. Following Pranay’s murder, she chose to live with her in-laws and later gave birth to their son. Her testimony, along with that of Pranay’s parents, played a pivotal role in securing justice.
COURT VERDICT AND REACTIONS
After extensive hearings, the Telangana court pronounced its judgment, delivering stringent sentences to the accused. The verdict has been met with relief and satisfaction by Pranay’s family, who had persistently demanded strict punishment for those responsible.
“This judgment is a step towards justice for Pranay. It reaffirms that such heinous crimes will not be tolerated," said a family member following the verdict.
The case stands as a grim reminder of the dangers of caste-based violence and honour killings, highlighting the need for greater societal awareness and legal deterrence against such crimes. The court’s ruling has been widely welcomed as a firm message against those who attempt to defy the law in the name of social hierarchy and prejudice.
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