The Bombay High Court on Tuesday upheld the death sentence for Sunil Kuchkoravi, confirming the ruling of a lower court in Kolhapur, for a chilling crime involving the murder of his mother and cannibalism. This horrific case has been deemed by the court as falling within the “rarest of rare” categories, underscoring its severe impact on societal norms and safety.
The division bench, comprising Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan, described the 2017 crime as “brutal, barbaric, and gruesome,” highlighting the extreme nature of the act where Kuchkoravi not only murdered his mother but also mutilated and cooked parts of her body. “The convict not only murdered his mother but he also removed her body parts – brain, heart, liver, kidney, intestine and was cooking them on a pan,” observed the High Court.
Detailing the gruesome acts, the bench noted, “He had cooked her ribs and was about to cook her heart. This is a case of cannibalism.” The court expressed concern over any potential for reform of the convict, citing his cannibalistic tendencies and indicating that life imprisonment could pose a threat to other inmates.
Addressing the severity of the crime, the justices remarked on the impossibility of social reintegration for Kuchkoravi, stating, “A person who could commit such a heinous crime by killing his mother, can do so with anyone else, including his own family. His social integration, therefore, is unquestionably foreclosed.”
The court’s decision reflects a broader concern about the safety of the community and the psychological impact of the crime. “To release such a person would amount to giving him a free ride and freedom to commit a similar offence against members of society,” the bench added.
The detailed judgment also touched upon the unbearable torture and pain suffered by the victim, with the court highlighting the inhuman cruelty Kuchkoravi exhibited, especially noting that he had mutilated her genital organ, contributing to her death.
