Wed Jan 29 12:41:15 UTC 2025: ## Kerala Cabinet Sparks Outrage with Recommendation to Remit Murder Conviction

**Alappuzha, Kerala – January 29, 2025** – The Kerala State Cabinet’s decision to recommend the remission of Sherin’s life sentence in the 2009 murder of Bhaskara Karanavar has ignited a storm of protest from the victim’s family and local residents.

Sherin, the daughter-in-law of the deceased, was convicted of murder, abetment, and conspiracy in the death of 66-year-old Karanavar, a US returnee. She was sentenced to life imprisonment alongside three accomplices in 2010, a sentence upheld by both the High Court and Supreme Court.

The Cabinet’s recommendation, based on the advisory committee of the Kannur Women’s Prison and the Law department’s opinion, has been met with accusations of preferential treatment. Anil Onampilly, a close relative of Karanavar and a key witness in the trial, criticized the government for sending a “wrong message” by recommending remission for Sherin while her co-conspirators remain incarcerated. He also highlighted that Sherin had been granted parole for over 500 days during her imprisonment.

The motive for the murder, according to the prosecution, stemmed from Karanavar’s removal of Sherin’s name from his will after discovering her infidelity. Karanavar’s three children, who currently reside abroad, have not yet publicly commented on the decision.

The Governor, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, will now consider the Cabinet’s recommendation. The controversy underscores the ongoing debate surrounding clemency and the perceived disparity in the application of justice.

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