In a horrifying case that has shocked India and the world, a man has been sentenced to death for burning his wife alive because of her dark skin.
The victim, Lakshmi, had been married to Kishandas since 2016, hoping to build a life filled with love and respect. Instead, she faced constant verbal abuse, humiliation, and emotional torture simply because of her complexion.
According to court documents, Kishandas repeatedly insulted Lakshmi, calling her “kali”—a cruel and offensive term for someone with dark skin. He pressured her to change her appearance and even mocked her in front of others.
On June 24, 2017, the abuse turned deadly. Kishandas told Lakshmi he was giving her skin-lightening medicine. Instead, it was a flammable liquid. He poured it on her and lit her on fire using an incense stick—then ran away, leaving her to die.
Despite severe injuries, Lakshmi survived long enough to tell the truth. Her final statement to the police exposed the years of emotional torture and identified her husband as the one who set her on fire. She later died in hospital due to the burns.
The judge in the case, Rahul Choudhary, called the murder one of the “rarest of the rare” crimes and said it was more than just domestic abuse—it was a brutal act rooted in deep discrimination.
“This heart-wrenching and brutal crime was not only against Lakshmi but against humanity itself. It is unimaginable in a civilised society,” the judge said.
He sentenced Kishandas to death by hanging, saying society must send a strong message that violence driven by colourism has no place in the modern world.
The case has sparked national debate in India, where lighter skin is often wrongly seen as more desirable, and darker-skinned women face discrimination even within their own homes.
Public prosecutor Dinesh Paliwal praised the court’s decision:
“A young woman in her early 20s was murdered simply for being born with dark skin. She was someone’s daughter, someone’s sister. If we don’t protect our daughters, who will?”
Lakshmi’s family is heartbroken but relieved that justice has finally been served. Her sister said in court,
“She never asked for anything but love. What she got was cruelty, shame, and pain. We will never forget what he did to her.”
The death sentence now awaits confirmation by the High Court, and Kishandas has 30 days to appeal. His legal team claims Lakshmi’s death was accidental, but the evidence and her dying statement speak otherwise.
This tragic case stands as a painful reminder of how dangerous deep-rooted prejudices like colourism can become. For Lakshmi, justice may have come too late—but her story might just save others.
