Pranay Murder Case: A Verdict That Should Serve as a Lesson, Says Father
The Nalgonda SC/ST Court has pronounced its verdict in the 2018 Pranay murder case, which had caused a sensation at the time. The court sentenced A2 accused Subhash Kumar Sharma to the death penalty, while the remaining accused were given life imprisonment.
Reacting to the verdict, Pranay’s father, Balaswamy, expressed hope that it would serve as an eye-opener for criminals. He stated that his family had suffered an irreparable loss due to Pranay’s murder and lamented the occurrence of such crimes. He wished that this judgment would put an end to honor killings.
Balaswamy recalled that when his son was murdered, they had hoped it would be the last such incident and had launched the “Justice for Pranay” movement. However, he expressed anguish that similar killings continued to take place. He urged that the verdict should serve as a lesson to those who hold onto caste prejudices and to those who commit murders driven by caste-based arrogance.
He further pointed out that Pranay’s murder left their family without a son and Amrutha without a husband, and also noted that Maruthi Rao, the prime accused, had died by suicide. He stated that the families of the seven convicted individuals would now suffer as well and warned that this judgment should be a deterrent for contract killers.
Balaswamy emphasized that disputes should be resolved through discussion and that resorting to murder was unacceptable. He also revealed that despite attempts to lure them with offers, they remained steadfast in their pursuit of justice.
Addressing concerns over delays in the trial, he praised the police for filing a watertight chargesheet and acknowledged the role of former SP Ranganath in ensuring justice. He concluded by stating that while the court’s verdict had delivered justice, no ruling could ever compensate for the loss of his son. "People keep asking if I am happy with the verdict, but no one can fill the void left by my son," he said, overcome with emotion.