Dr Vandana Das hospital murder: Teacher G Sandeep gets life term; prosecution plans death penalty appeal

A Kollam court sentenced teacher G Sandeep to life imprisonment for the murder of Dr Vandana Das inside a taluk hospital in May 2023. The judge also ordered a total 30-year term for other offences and imposed a fine of Rs 2.35 lakh. Prosecutors said they will appeal seeking the death penalty.

A court in Kollam sentenced school teacher G Sandeep to life imprisonment on Saturday. The case involved the killing of Dr Vandana Das inside a taluk hospital in May 2023. Prosecutors said they would seek a harsher sentence. Dr Das’s family also asked for the maximum punishment under law.

Kollam Additional District and Sessions judge P N Vinod awarded a total of 30 years for other offences. The judge said the term sentences would run one after another. The order said life imprisonment for Dr Das’s murder would start only after those 30 years. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 2.35 lakh.

Dr Vandana Das murder case and the court’s sentence order

The prosecution argued for the death penalty during the sentencing stage. However, the judge said the case did not meet the rarest-of-rare test. The court also noted a chance of reform. The order referred to Sandeep’s statement that the remaining life would be regretful.

"At the same time, I agree with the stand of the prosecution to the effect that the sentence should commensurate with the gravity of the crime and the sentence should not only be reformative, but should also have a deterrent effect. In my view, the said objective can be achieved by directing that the term sentences that will be imposed will run consecutively and life sentence that has to be imposed will commence only after the expiration of terms sentences,\" the judge said.

Dr Vandana Das murder case appeal push for death penalty

After the verdict, special public prosecutor SPP Prathap G Padickal spoke to reporters outside the court. Padickal said a recommendation would be made for an appeal. The appeal would seek to raise the life term to death penalty. The prosecution had already pressed for that outcome in court.

Dr Das’s father said the order brought relief to the family. The father also said it was hard to say if justice was done. The father signalled dissatisfaction with the punishment. The father said steps would follow, after talks with the public prosecutor, to seek enhancement.

Dr Das’s mother said the family could only hope for the maximum punishment. Dr Das’s mother said it was the court’s role to decide the sentence. Dr Das’s mother said the family would appeal. Dr Das’s mother did not say whether the family felt justice was delivered.

Dr Vandana Das murder case details of hospital attack in May 2023

Dr Das’s mother said the family wanted the convict to feel the same pain. Dr Das’s mother said Dr Das was stabbed 27 times. The attack happened inside the taluk hospital. Dr Das later died after being moved for treatment. The killing had triggered wide public attention in Kerala.

The court had convicted Sandeep on March 17. The offences included murder, wrongful restraint and destruction of evidence under the then Indian Penal Code IPC. The court also found guilt under the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions Prevention of violence and damage to property Act 2012.

Police brought Sandeep to the taluk hospital in the early hours of May 10, 2023. Sandeep had been taken there for treatment of a leg injury. Investigators said Sandeep grabbed surgical scissors from the treatment room. Sandeep first attacked police officers and another person, then turned on Dr Das.

Dr Das could not get away during the sudden assault. Dr Das was taken to a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram after the stabbing. Dr Das later died from the injuries. Dr Das was from the Kaduthuruthy area in Kottayam district. Dr Das was the only child of the parents.

Dr Das was a house surgeon at Azeezia Medical College Hospital. Dr Das was posted at the Kottarakkara taluk hospital as part of training. Police said Sandeep had called emergency number 112 and claimed danger to life. When police reached, Sandeep stood near the home with local residents and relatives nearby.

Police saw a wound on Sandeep’s leg after an alleged quarrel. Police then took Sandeep to the hospital for dressing. The court has now given a structured sentence plan, along with a fine. Prosecutors and the family said they planned appeals. The case continues to be tracked through the next legal steps.

With inputs from PTI