Madras High Court Upholds Life Sentence for Man Who Murdered Engineering Student After Relationship Rejection

June 16, 2026 : The Madras High Court has upheld the conviction and life sentence of a man who murdered an engineering student inside her classroom after she chose to end their relationship.

A Division Bench comprising Justice N. Anand Venkatesh and Justice K.K. Ramakrishnan dismissed the appeal filed by Udayakumar, affirming the judgment of a Karur trial court that convicted him for the murder of Sonali, a third-year Civil Engineering student at Karur College of Engineering.

While delivering the verdict, the Court expressed concern over a growing social trend where some men react violently when faced with rejection in relationships. The Bench observed that the crime was rooted in the accused’s inability to accept the victim’s decision to distance herself and warned against the dangerous mindset that women are obligated to continue relationships against their wishes.

According to the prosecution, Sonali and the accused had previously been in a close relationship. After she decided to end contact with him, he allegedly became agitated. On August 30, 2016, around 10:30 a.m., he entered her classroom and repeatedly struck her on the head with a wooden log. An assistant professor who attempted to intervene was also assaulted.

Sonali was rushed to Apollo Hospital in Madurai but later succumbed to her injuries. The trial court convicted the accused under Sections 449, 294(b), 324, 302, and 506(II) of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to life imprisonment for murder.

The High Court also criticised certain aspects of the investigation. It noted inconsistencies in the prosecution’s claim that the murder weapon was recovered from bushes after the accused’s arrest, despite witnesses stating that it had been left inside the classroom. The Bench observed that the investigating officer had mechanically introduced a recovery theory that was not supported by the evidence.

However, the Court held that the investigative lapse did not undermine the prosecution’s case. It found the testimony of the injured witness to be credible and reliable, supported by medical evidence and other material on record.

The Bench further expressed disappointment over students who allegedly witnessed the attack but later turned hostile during the trial. It remarked that expressing outrage on social media was meaningless unless it was accompanied by a willingness to support the truth during judicial proceedings.

Observing that the students had failed in their duty to stand by the truth and had let down the deceased, the Court concluded that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. Consequently, it dismissed the appeal and upheld the conviction and life sentence imposed on the accused.