The Thaliparamba Additional Sessions Court on Monday convicted Saranya for the murder of her one-and-a-half-year-old son, whom she had thrown into the sea near her house at Thayyil in Kerala’s Kannur district in February 2020.
However, the court acquitted the second accused, Nidhin—Saranya’s male friend—citing lack of evidence to prove conspiracy, abetment or instigation.
Additional Sessions Judge KN Prasanth, in his verdict, observed that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges against Nidhin beyond reasonable doubt. The sentence for Saranya will be pronounced on Wednesday.
When asked by the court if she had anything to say before sentencing, Saranya pleaded for leniency, stating that she was only 27 years old, had no one to support her, was not involved in any other criminal case, and was suffering from severe mental stress.
The incident occurred on February 17, 2020. Saranya killed her one-and-a-half-year-old son, Viyan, by throwing him onto rocks along the Thayyil seashore, about 50 metres from her residence at Koduvalli House. After the child was reported missing, residents and police launched a search, following which the toddler’s body was recovered from a nearby seawall.
According to the charge sheet, Saranya committed the murder to live a life of comfort with Nidhin. Police filed the charge sheet before the Kannur First Class Magistrate Court on the 90th day after her arrest.
Investigators initially suspected the child’s father, Pranav, due to marital discord, his sudden return home after months of separation, and circumstantial evidence such as his missing footwear. Statements from relatives and local residents also pointed towards him in the early stages of the investigation.
However, scientific evidence including traces of saltwater found on Saranya’s clothes and postmortem findings confirming death due to severe head injuries caused by impact with rocks—shifted suspicion to the mother. After two days of sustained interrogation, Saranya confessed to the crime.
As many as 47 witnesses were examined during the trial, which lasted several months. During the course of the proceedings, Saranya also attempted suicide in Kozhikode.