Breaking: SC scraps Govindachamy’s death penalty, upholds life imprisonment for rape [Read judgment]

The wait for the judgment in the rape and murder of Kerala native Soumya is over, with the Supreme Court setting aside the death sentence of Govindachamy.

The conviction of rape has, however, been upheld, which would mean that Govindachamy will serve life imprisonment for the said offence as awarded by the High Court.

The judgment was pronounced by a Bench comprising Ranjan Gogoi, PC Pant and UU Lalit JJ. a few minutes back. Advocate BA Aloor appeared for Govindachamy, while Senior Advocate Thomas P Joseph appeared for State of Kerala.

The Court had reserved its judgment in the case on September 8, with Gogoi J observing that though the offence of rape stood proved, the murder charge was based largely on circumstantial evidence.