Mysuru Court Sentences Man to Life for 2021 Machete Murder of Partner

The Verdict and Sentencing

Judge Mohan Basappa Badagandi of the Second Additional District and Sessions Court in Mysuru has ruled that the prosecution successfully proved the murder charge against 27-year-old Kiran Kumar. The court convicted Kumar under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for the 2021 killing of Preethu Kumari. Along with the life sentence, the judge imposed a fine of ₹10,000. Government Public Prosecutor B.M. Veena represented the state throughout the legal proceedings.

The Incident and Investigation

The fatal confrontation occurred on April 15, 2021, when Kumar used a machete hidden in a kitchen to inflict multiple severe injuries on Kumari. Though she was rushed to Brindavan Hospital for emergency treatment, she eventually died from the wounds. Following the death, the Vijayanagar Police conducted an investigation and submitted a formal chargesheet that served as the basis for the conviction. The court examined evidence showing that the accused had premeditated the attack by keeping the weapon ready in their shared residence.

Background of the Relationship

The shared history between the accused and the victim involved deep familial and personal ties:

• Shared Origin: Kiran Kumar hailed from Bommanahalli village in Ilvala hobli, Mysuru taluk, and was a relative of the deceased.
• Domestic Conflict: Preethu Kumari, who had married a man named Swamy approximately nine years prior, eventually left her husband to live with Kumar.
• The Breakup: The couple resided in a rented property in Belavadi with Kumari's three children. The prosecution established that Kumar subjected Kumari to physical and mental harassment based on suspicions regarding her character.
• The Catalyst: The 2021 attack was triggered when Kumari expressed her intention to end the relationship and leave the accused.

Source: The Hindu — News