Reacting to the verdict given by the Nalgonda SC and ST Sessions court, Pranay Perumalla’s father Balaswamy said that justice was finally served after a wait of six-and-a-half years. “This verdict should be eye-opening for those who commit such caste murders,” Balaswamy said.
Subsequently, Pranay’s family visited his graveyard and paid their respects.
On Monday, March 10, the Nalgonda SC and ST Sessions court awarded the death penalty to the second accused in the case, a contract killer named Subhash Sharma. Six other convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment. The main accused, Pranay’s father-in-law Maruthi Rao, died by suicide in March 2020.
Pranay, a 24-year-old Dalit Christian from the Mala community, was hacked to death with a machete in broad daylight in Miryalguda on September 14, 2018, for marrying Amrutha Varshini, who belongs to the dominant Vaishya caste.
Speaking to the media following the verdict, Balaswamy said, “When Pranay was killed, we wanted it to be the last such murder, and fought for justice in the name of Justice for Pranay. But caste murders have continued to occur.”
“Pranay’s murder has resulted in so much loss. We lost our son, Amrutha lost her husband, my grandson lost his father. Maruthi Rao too killed himself. And now, all these people have been sentenced to death or life imprisonment. Their families will also suffer.”
Expressing grief over the death of his son, Balaswamy while tearing up said, “People are asking us if they were happy with the verdict. We are not happy. We are still constantly grieving my son. But we are not angry with anyone. We just want such murders to stop. This verdict proves that there is justice in this state, in this country, in this society.”
The Nalgonda SC and ST Sessions court on March 10 awarded life imprisonment to six convicts including Maruthi Rao’s brother Sravan Kumar, his driver Samudrala Shiva, Md Azgar Ali, Md Abdul Bari, MA Nazeem, and Md Abdul Kareem. Maruthi Rao was accused of paying Rs 1 crore to the contract killers.