Thrissur: The Irinjalakuda Fast-Track Special Court sentenced 40-year-old Vijaya Kumar to double life imprisonment, an additional 15 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹1.35 lakh for sexually assaulting a 91-year-old woman and snatching her gold chain. Judge Vivija Sethumohan delivered the verdict. 

The incident occurred on August 3, 2022, when the accused trespassed into the victim’s home in Alathur, Palakkad district. He forcibly took her from the kitchen to another room, sexually assaulted her, and violently removed a gold chain weighing 2.5 sovereigns. The survivor passed away eight months after the attack.

The prosecution presented 29 witnesses, 52 documents, and 21 material objects as evidence. Key evidence included scientific analysis of the accused’s hair recovered from the crime scene, the gold chain recovered following his confession, statements from a neighbour and the motorcycle used during the crime.