Kerala: A Kerala sessions court witnessed a shocking display of defiance after convicted murderer Chenthamara declared he had no remorse for his crimes and threatened to kill again if given the chance. The remarks came moments after he was found guilty in the sensational 2025 Pothundi double murder case that shook the state.
Addressing the court before sentencing, Chenthamara rejected any expression of regret, telling the judge that he had no objection to being hanged. “Hang me if you want. I don’t mind. If necessary, I would eliminate more people. I am not Gandhiji,” he said, leaving those present in the courtroom stunned. The prosecution said the comments reinforced its argument that the convict remains a danger to society.
The Additional Sessions Court in Palakkad convicted Chenthamara for the murders of Sudhakaran and his 75 year old mother, Lakshmi, who were hacked to death at their home in Pothundi, near Nenmara, on January 27, 2025. Prosecutors described the killings as a planned act of revenge that stemmed from a years long personal grudge.
According to investigators, the roots of the case date back to 2019, when Chenthamara allegedly murdered Sudhakaran’s wife, Sajitha, believing she was responsible for the breakdown of his marriage. He was convicted in that case and sentenced to double life imprisonment but later secured bail. Prosecutors alleged that he violated the bail conditions, returned to the village, and meticulously planned another attack targeting the same family.
The prosecution told the court that Chenthamara arrived armed with a billhook and first attacked Sudhakaran outside his residence. Lakshmi rushed out after hearing the commotion but was also fatally assaulted. Following the killings, the accused fled into a nearby forest before being arrested after an extensive police search lasting two days.
During the trial, the defence argued that the accused was mentally unstable at the time of the murders. However, the court rejected the claim after considering psychological assessments and the evidence presented by the prosecution. The investigation relied on forensic findings, scientific evidence, and a detailed chargesheet, which prosecutors said established the accused’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt despite a few witnesses turning hostile.
Public Prosecutor M.J. Vijayakumar has sought the maximum punishment permitted under law, including the death penalty, arguing that the convict’s conduct inside the courtroom demonstrated a complete absence of remorse and an ongoing threat to public safety. The victims’ family has also appealed for the harshest possible sentence, expressing fears that they could become future targets if he were ever released.
Investigators further claimed that the double murder may have been only part of a larger revenge plot. According to the prosecution, Chenthamara allegedly maintained a list of additional intended targets that included his estranged wife, daughter, police officer son-in-law, brother-in-law, and several others connected to his long running dispute.
The case has reignited debate in Kerala over monitoring high risk offenders released on bail and the need for stronger safeguards for victims and witnesses in cases involving repeat violent offenders. Legal experts say the sentencing order will now determine the final punishment, while any conviction and sentence remain subject to appeal before higher courts.
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