Teacher-turned serial killer “Cyanide” Mohan Kumar, convicted in three of the 20 rape and murder cases registered against him, was awarded the death sentence on Saturday.
Fourth Additional District and Sessions Judge B K Naik, upholding Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Cheyabba Beary’s arguments in favour of capital punishment, awarded the penalty “hanging until death” in the Anita Baremar, Leelavathi and Sunanda rape and murder cases. The judge, declaring that Cyanide Mohan’s case fell in rarest of rare category, also sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for varying periods under 10 sections of IPC.
“All sentences will run concurrently and if death penalty is confirmed by the High Court, all sentences will be merged with death penalty,’’ he said.
The judge also passed directions to ensure that Mohan received a copy of the judgment. Court officials were instructed to stock materials at a safe place.
The judge also instructed the district subjail to execute the death sentence after obtaining the High Court’s confirmation.
Judge Naik, glancing at the court room packed with advocates, journalists, policemen and spectators also passed directions on handing over the fine amount to families of victims. “I took some time (to deliver the verdict), because I must be satisfied,’’ the judge said, after pronouncing sentence. Mohan Kumar had argued that the case was not proved beyond all reasonable doubt. He had also begged for leniency as his family was poor, his two children were in high school and his mother was not keeping good health.
SPP Beary had argued that there was no grounds for leniency.
He had argued that it was already proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mohan was unrepentant and never had any respect for the life and dignity of women. Being a mentally sound teacher, he could have moulded hundreds of students but turned into a killer creating fear in the minds of public, the SPP argued. “As it comes in the category of rarest of rare cases, society expects that Mohan be sentenced to death,’’ Beary had argued.
Judge Naik quoted the judgment of Sevaka Perumal, Etc vs State Of Tamil Nadu (May, 1991), Mahesh versus state of Maharashtra, Javed Ahmed versus (1983) among others for choosing death sentence over life imprisonment. In all cases stamping out ‘criminal proclivity’ has been the objective of law. Quoting Bachan Singh’s case (1982), he said not a single mitigating circumstance will come to the aide of Mohan.
Based on evidences it has been revealed that without any sudden provocation, he (Mohan) took the lives of innocent women, the judge stated.
Though being educated, he showed no devotion to his duty. He chose a wrong way of abducting, raping and murdering women again and again. This pre-mediated murders, brutal mindset of highest order pricks not only the judicial conscience but also the society’s conscience, he said.
The judge also chided Mohan for being adamant and creating doubts with a new contention that he took loan from Teachers Co-operative bank to buy gold for his second wife Sridevi. Thus women who trusted him were dutiful and followed him were murdered in a cold-blooded manner. Thus any lesser sentence will do more harm to the justice system and undermine the efficacy of law, the judge declared.
Judge Naik declared that as the case falls in rarest of rare category, Mohan deserved death punishment.
End of a Bloody trail
Oct 21, 2009: Police announce the arrest of a serial killer
Jan 2011: 13 cases shifted from other courts to FT Court
April 20, 2011: CID files chargesheet in all 20 cases
Nov 21, 2011 : Trial into the ‘Cyanide’ Mohan case begins.
June 2013: All 20 cases shifted to IV ADS court
Dec 17, 2013: Court declares Mohan guilty in two cases
Dec 21, 2013: Court awards death sentence in three cases