Chennai man gets life sentence for double murder

A man from Chennai has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal double murder of a young woman and her mother. The court made the ruling on Monday after a long trial that lasted more than seven years. The man, identified as M Akash, was 22 years old when he attacked S Induja, 21, and her mother Bhagyam, 44, in November 2017. He went to their home in Adambakkam, poured petrol on them, and set them on fire. Bhagyam died in the hospital from her injuries after trying to save her daughter. Induja's younger sister Nivedha, who was 19 at the time, was also hurt in the attack. She became a key witness for the prosecution. The court found that Akash's actions were premeditated. He had bought petrol the day before the attack and went to their house with the fuel. The motive for the crime was Induja’s decision to end her relationship with Akash. They had been together since 2013 when they were both in college. Induja's family did not approve of Akash, especially after he dropped out of school and struggled to find work. Just days before the attack, Induja's father, who lived in Canada, warned Akash to stay away from their home. During the trial, the court heard testimonies from 26 witnesses, including doctors, police officers, and forensic experts. Akash's actions were deemed intentional and cruel, leading to the life sentence.