A court in Hyderabad has delivered a capital punishment verdict, sentencing a man to death for the brutal 2011 murder of his stepsister, with whom he was allegedly in a relationship. The verdict brings a long-delayed closure to a case marked by extreme violence.
The Brutal Crime and Court's Verdict
On Monday, III Additional District and Sessions Judge Manda Venkateswara Rao of the Medchal Malkajgiri District Court in Kukatpally found Karan Singh alias Kamma Singh guilty of murder. The judge convicted Singh under Section 235(2) of the CrPC and sentenced him to be "hanged by neck till death" for the offence under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000.
The judge noted that Singh, a native of Bidar in Karnataka who was 22 years old at the time of the crime, had been in judicial custody for two periods: six months in 2011-12 and again from March 2023 until the present date.
Chilling Details of the July 2011 Murder
The prosecution presented a harrowing account of the crime. According to the police chargesheet, Singh murdered his stepsister on a day in July 2011 when she refused his sexual advances. He took her to an isolated spot near the Bharat Nagar flyover in Hyderabad and stabbed her to death with a knife he was known to always carry.
Her naked body was later discovered in the bushes near the flyover, bearing 15 to 20 stab injuries. The police stated that both the victim and the accused were addicted to alcohol, and frequent disagreements culminated in the fatal attack. Singh, a blacksmith by trade, was described as a habitual offender in theft cases since the age of 10.
Investigation and Path to Conviction
Additional Public Prosecutor G V Ramakrishna Rao, who argued the case, revealed that the district court took special permission from the High Court to award the death sentence, considering the brutality of the murder. While the defense claimed Singh's innocence, the prosecution built a robust case.
"The prosecution was able to produce material, technical and forensic evidence along with eye-witness accounts and the confession of the accused," Rao told The Indian Express. The investigation, led by the then Sanath Nagar police inspector Saini Srinivasa Rao, and a comprehensive chargesheet with strong evidence were cited as key factors in securing the conviction.
Avinash Mohanty, Commissioner of Police, Cyberabad, congratulated the investigating team and the Public Prosecutor. In a statement, he said, "This victory is a testament to the dedication and perseverance shown by the police during the investigation and trial. It demonstrates the commitment of the police system to delivering justice to the people."
The verdict underscores the judicial system's stance on heinous crimes, even those with a delayed trial timeline, ensuring that compelling evidence can lead to the ultimate punishment.
