Sherin, the prime accused in the sensational Bhaskara Karanavar murder case from Chengannur, was released from Kannur Central Jail at 4 PM today following a remission of her sentence. The release came after the Kerala Governor approved the state government’s decision to grant sentence reduction to 11 inmates, including Sherin, who has completed 14 years of imprisonment.
The murder took place on November 7, 2009, and Sherin, who is the daughter-in-law of the victim, was the first accused. The second accused, Basith Ali, a friend of Sherin, and other co-accused Shanur Rasheed and Nithin remain behind bars.
Sherin married Peter, Bhaskara Karanavar’s younger son, in 2001, reportedly under the promise of being taken to the United States. Within a year, the couple moved to the U.S. and lived with Bhaskara Karanavar and his wife Annamma. Trouble began when Sherin was allegedly caught stealing at her workplace in the U.S., leading the family to return to Kerala with their infant son.
Following Annamma’s death in 2007, Bhaskara Karanavar returned to his hometown, Cheriyanad. It was during this period that Sherin, through early social media platform Orkut and mobile communication, developed new male friendships. One of them, Basith Ali, later became the second accused in the murder case.
The investigation found that Sherin orchestrated the murder with the help of Basith and his friends Shanur Rasheed and Nithin, reportedly as an act of revenge for being excluded from family inheritance.
Sherin’s release has reignited public memory of the case, which once shocked the state for its brutal nature and the use of digital platforms in criminal conspiracy.
