By Sumesh Rajan | January 23, 2026
Kannur, Kerala, INDIA: A court in Taliparamba, Kannur district, has sentenced a woman to life imprisonment for murdering her 18-month-old son by throwing him into the sea in February 2020.
The Thaliparamba Additional District and Sessions Court, presided over by Judge Prasanth K.N., on Thursday January 22 awarded life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on Sharanya Valsaraj (28). She was found guilty of murdering her son, Viyan, on February 17, 2020, by throwing him into the sea wall at Thayyil beach.
According to the prosecution, Sharanya took the sleeping child from her house in the early hours and threw him into the sea. The child’s body was later found among rocks on the beach. A post-mortem examination revealed that he died due to head injuries sustained after hitting the rocks.
The Additional Sessions Court had earlier, on January 19, found Sharanya guilty of murder, holding that the prosecution had proved the charge beyond reasonable doubt. However, her friend and alleged paramour, Nidhin P, who was named as the second accused, was acquitted due to lack of evidence.
The court ruled that the prosecution failed to establish any criminal conspiracy or direct involvement of Nidhin in the crime. As a result, he was acquitted of all charges.
The prosecution alleged that Sharanya committed the murder to pursue a relationship with Nidhin following marital discord with her husband, Pranav. At the time of the incident, she was living with her husband.
Investigators initially examined multiple angles, including suspicion against the husband. However, the focus later shifted to Sharanya based on circumstantial and scientific evidence. Police cited inconsistencies in her statements, saltwater stains on her clothes worn on the night of the incident, and call records linking her to the second accused. After sustained questioning, she reportedly confessed to the crime.
The police had charged the accused under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 109 (abetment) and 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. While Sharanya was acquitted of conspiracy and abetment charges, she was convicted under Section 302.
Public Prosecutor U. Ramesan represented the prosecution. During the sentencing hearing, the prosecution sought the maximum punishment, while the defence pleaded for leniency, citing the convict’s young age.
The court considered reports from the police, the District Probation Officer and the Superintendent of the Women’s Jail in Kannur, which assessed her financial condition, background, education, character, mental state and chances of reformation.
A total of 43 witnesses were examined during the trial, along with 19 material objects and 81 documents.
The fine amount imposed on Sharanya was ordered to be paid to her husband, Pranav.
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