Supreme Court Commutes Death Penalty of Man Convicted for Family Murders to Life Imprisonment

The Supreme Court has commuted the death sentence to Reji Kumar, convicted of raping his daughter and murdering his wife and four children in 2008, to life imprisonment without parole.

While recognizing the heinous nature of the crime, the Court cited his 16 years of good conduct in jail, mental health concerns, and evidence of reformation, including charitable acts.

The Court emphasized his absence of a prior criminal history model behavior, and acts of repentance. 

His conviction under Sections 302, 376, and 201 of the IPC remains, but the sentence now extends to life imprisonment until natural death. (Reji Kumar Alias Reji v. State of Kerala)