PTI, Udaipur (Raj), Sep 1, 2025 :
A court in Udaipur has sentenced a man to death for the brutal murder of his wife, whom he had repeatedly taunted for her skin complexion. Kishanlal, the accused, tricked his wife Laxmi into applying an inflammable chemical under the pretext that it would make her skin fair, before setting her on fire. The Additional District and Sessions Court in Mavli (Udaipur) called the crime a “heinous act against humanity.”
“Such a crime cannot even be imagined in a healthy and civilised society,” the court remarked while delivering its verdict in this eight-year-old case.
The tragic incident took place on June 24, 2017, in Navaniya village. According to the prosecution, Kishanlal, who harbored a deep-seated prejudice against his wife’s appearance, deceived Laxmi into applying a chemical that he falsely claimed would make her skin fair. Despite the chemical emitting a suspicious odor, which Laxmi suspected to be acidic, she trusted her husband and applied it all over her body.
Kishanlal then placed an incense stick near her stomach and set her on fire. Laxmi, severely burned, screamed for help and managed to flee. However, her husband had locked the room from the inside, preventing her escape. Despite being rushed to the hospital by her in-laws, Laxmi succumbed to her injuries a few days later.
The court condemned Kishanlal’s actions as “extremely rare and shocking,” noting that his cruelty went far beyond a domestic crime, shaking the conscience of society. “The extremely heart-wrenching and brutal act was not only a crime against his wife, the deceased Laxmi, but it caused such a shock to the consciousness of entire humanity that it cannot even be imagined in a healthy and civilised society,” the judgment read.
Public prosecutor Dinesh Paliwal presented 14 witnesses and 36 documents to demonstrate that Kishanlal had repeatedly taunted Laxmi for her skin color and physical appearance, ultimately leading to the horrific act. The court noted that Kishanlal’s conduct was a reflection of deep-rooted societal prejudices related to skin color and gender-based violence.
The court also pointed out that Laxmi’s dying declaration served as crucial evidence. In her statement, Laxmi confirmed that she had been taunted by her husband for her appearance, which he claimed made her unworthy of him. The declaration revealed how Kishanlal locked her in a room, mocked her physical appearance, and ultimately carried out his plan to burn her alive.
The court referred to Kishanlal’s actions as reflecting a “heinous mindset,” subjecting Laxmi to humiliation and physical abuse. It further stated that Kishanlal’s behavior was not only a failure as a husband but also a violation of the fundamental trust that is the foundation of any marriage.
The death penalty handed to Kishanlal marks a significant moment in the fight against domestic violence, gender-based discrimination, and societal biases in India.
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