Thiruvananthapuram: The Neyyattinkara Additional Sessions Court judge A M Basheer on Monday awarded a death sentence to SS Greeshma in the high-profile Sharon Raj murder case. The case, which shocked Kerala and Tamil Nadu, revolves around the tragic death of 23-year-old radiology student Sharon Raj, allegedly poisoned by his former girlfriend Greeshma after he refused to end their relationship.

The crime
On October 14, 2022, Sharon visited Greeshma at her house in Ramavarmanchirai, Kanyakumari. Accompanied by his friend Rejin, he consumed an Ayurvedic decoction laced with pesticide, reportedly served by Greeshma. Moments later, Sharon began vomiting, with Rejin recalling that the vomit had a blue tint.

Initially admitted to Parassala Government Hospital, Sharon's condition seemed to stabilise, and he returned home. However, his health deteriorated rapidly, leading to his re-admission to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College on October 17. Doctors determined he had consumed an acidic substance that caused severe organ damage. After days of dialysis and treatment, Sharon succumbed to cardiac arrest on October 25.

Background
Sharon and Greeshma met during a bus journey and began a relationship that lasted over a year. Sharon was a final-year BSc Radiology student, while Greeshma was pursuing postgraduate studies in literature. However, their relationship soured when Greeshma's family arranged her marriage to another man in February 2022. Despite her attempts to end the relationship, Sharon reportedly refused to let go, creating tension between the two.

Investigation
The initial FIR filed by police cited food poisoning, with no mention of deliberate poisoning or Greeshma’s involvement. However, the case took a dramatic turn when evidence and testimonies suggested premeditation. Greeshma had allegedly attempted to poison Sharon earlier through a 'juice challenge,' which he refused to consume entirely due to its bitterness.

The prosecution presented digital, medical, and forensic evidence, claiming that Greeshma, aided by her mother Sindhu and uncle Nirmalakumaran Nair, meticulously planned the crime and attempted to destroy evidence. Sharon’s confession to his friend Rejin and his statement to a magistrate days before his death was pivotal in building the case.

The defence argued that the case was fabricated, pointing to inconsistencies in the investigation. They claimed that Sharon might have brought and consumed the poison himself, raising doubts about the police's evidence.

Greeshma was arrested in November 2022 following her dramatic suicide attempt at a police station, which led to her hospitalisation. She, along with her co-accused mother and uncle, remains in custody as the court reviews the evidence. Greeshma is the first accused, her mother Sindhu is the second accused, and uncle Nirmalakumaran Nair is the third accused. A special investigation team led by then district police chief D Shilpa probed the case.

The keywords 'Greeshma Case' has been among the most searched on Google Trends from Monday morning, along with 'Sharon case Kerala' and 'Greeshma Case judgement'.