Chenthamara, the accused in the Pothundy twin murders (file image)
Chenthamara, the accused in the sensational Pothundy double murder case, was sentenced on Saturday (October 18, 2025) to double life imprisonment for a previous murder that occurred six years ago at Pothundy in Palakkad, Kerala.
Pallakad Additional District and Sessions Court-IV Judge Kenneth George sentenced Chenthamara to a double term in prison and slapped a fine of ₹3.25 lakh for murdering his neighbour Sajitha on August 31, 2019.
The judge had already convicted him of murder, trespass and destruction of evidence in the case.
The prosecution, represented by public prosecutor M.J. Vijayakumar, succeeded in securing a conviction in the murder case by examining 34 witnesses and presenting 63 documents and material objects.
The prosecution established that the motive for the murder was Chenthamara’s vindictiveness towards Sajitha, stemming from his belief that she had caused his wife to leave him.
On 31 August 2019, Chenthamara entered his neighbour Sajitha’s kitchen with a machete while she was preparing lunch, and when her children were at school and her husband Sudhakaran was at work in Tamil Nadu. After hacking her to death, Chenthamara disappeared into the Nelliyampathy forest and was arrested when he emerged a day later.
On January 27, 2025, while out on bail, Chenthamara shocked Kerala by killing Sajitha’s widower Sudhakaran and his mother Lakshmi in the same manner. They too were reportedly killed due to their suspected involvement in his family’s desertion. The trial in the twin-murder case is likely to begin soon.
The murder of the mother-son duo had triggered severe criticism against the police, who had reportedly ignored complaints and worries raised by Sudhakaran and his children against permitting Chenthamara to come and stay at his house at Pothundy.
Although the police had submitted the chargesheet in the Sajitha murder case in 2020, the trial began in August 2025. Several persons, including his estranged wife, her brother and friends, testified against Chenthamara in the Sajitha murder case.
When the prosecution sought capital punishment for Chenthamara, the defence lawyer argued that the verdict should not be influenced by the double murder that he committed while being out on bail.
Chenthamara’s counsel argued that he had never been involved even in a petty case before the Sajitha murder case.
Family expresses happiness at verdict
Sajitha’s daughters, Atulya and Akhila, expressed happiness at the verdict. They had sought maximum punishment, and had raised safety concerns if Chenthamara was released on bail.
Published – October 18, 2025 12:32 pm IST
