Telangana High Court Overturns Death Penalty in Ritual Killing Case, Cites Mental Illness
In a landmark judgment, the Telangana High Court has set aside the death penalty and acquitted a 35-year-old woman who was convicted of killing her seven-month-old daughter in a ritual sacrifice driven by superstitious beliefs. The court ruled that her conduct was "more consistent with psychotic ideation than with criminal design," highlighting the critical role of mental health considerations in criminal justice.
Background of the Tragic Incident
The case dates back to April 15, 2021, when the appellant, Banothu Bharathi, allegedly performed a ritual at her home in Suryapet, Telangana. Influenced by superstitious beliefs regarding 'Sarpadosham' (a curse), she is accused of slitting her infant daughter's throat and cutting her tongue as a sacrifice to rid herself of the perceived curse. This horrific act was reportedly motivated by irrational fears and bizarre conduct rooted in her mental state.
In April 2025, the Ist Additional District and Sessions Judge at Suryapet found Bharathi guilty of murder and imposed the death penalty, describing the crime as "rarest of rare." However, the High Court's recent decision has overturned this verdict, emphasizing the appellant's psychiatric vulnerability.
Court's Findings on Mental Health
The Division Bench of Justices K Lakshman and Vakiti Ramakrishna Reddy accepted the plea of insanity, granting Bharathi the benefit of the general exception under Section 84 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court observed that "though the act is attributable to the appellant-accused, the same does not constitute an offence in the eye of law."
Key aspects of the court's ruling include:
- Documented History of Paranoid Schizophrenia: The court noted that Bharathi had a well-documented history of Paranoid Schizophrenia dating back to 2017, with medical records showing extensive treatment and postpartum vulnerability at the time of the incident.
- Psychotic Hallucinations: The Bench found that her actions, including telling her husband the child "looked like a snake and so she killed [her]," were manifestations of psychosis-induced hallucinations and loss of reality testing.
- Mitigation Investigation Report (MIR): The court appointed a senior mitigation investigator, whose report concluded the act resulted from "severe psychotic compulsion" rather than volitional control, indicating potential for treatment and rehabilitation.
Criticism of Trial Court and Rehabilitation Measures
The High Court expressed astonishment at the trial court for ignoring Bharathi's mental health condition. It stated, "The offence, though grave and tragic, arises in a factual matrix marked by psychiatric vulnerability rather than deliberate criminal design." The court emphasized that the death sentence cannot be sustained, as the appellant is not beyond reform.
As part of the acquittal, the court directed:
- Transfer of Bharathi from Chanchalguda Prison to the Institute of Mental Health in Erragadda, Hyderabad, for continued care and treatment.
- Periodic supervision by the district collector to ensure compliance with statutory safeguards under the Mental Healthcare Act.
- Noting her previous conviction for attempting to murder her husband, the court opined that releasing her into society would be dangerous, and institutional care is necessary.
This judgment underscores the importance of thorough mental health evaluations in criminal cases, particularly those involving severe acts driven by irrational beliefs. It sets a precedent for balancing justice with compassion in instances where mental illness plays a pivotal role.
