SC Commutes Death Penalty of Man Who Killed Wife, 4 Children

Accused Raped His 12-Year-Old Daughter Before Killing Her to Live With His Lover in 2008

- Abraham Thomas

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday commuted the death sentence of a man convicted for the brutal murder of his wife and four children and raping his 12-year-old daughter before killing her to live with his lover in 2008.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta upheld the conviction of Reji Kumar alias Reji but commuted his death sentence to imprisonment till his last breath owing to his good conduct in 16-17 years of incarceration.

"Keeping in view the discussion made in Ramesh A Naika v. Registrar General, High Court of Karnataka (a 2025 verdict) and considering the facts that the convict-appellant had no prior antecedents; good conduct for the past 16-17 years of incarceration; difficulties in mental health and consistent efforts at being a model prisoner, we find that the imposition of death penalty would be unjustified," the bench said in its verdict.