Tamil Nadu techie on death row for minor's rape-murder acquitted of killing mother

01-May-2025

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A Tamil Nadu software engineer previously convicted and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in 2017, was acquitted in a separate murder case involving his mother. The verdict was delivered by the Principal District Court in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu.

The accused, Dashwanth, was found guilty of rape and murder of the seven-year-old in 2018. 

After his conviction, Dashwanth was granted bail. Reportedly, he murdered his 42-year-old mother, S Sarala, shortly after his release. 

She was discovered dead in her home, lying in a pool of blood with multiple head injuries caused by a sharp weapon. Her jewellery was also reported missing.

The Chengalpattu court acquitted Dashwanth of all charges in his mother’s murder, including those under Section 302 (murder) and Section 380 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 235(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), citing lack of sufficient evidence to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.