‘Dark and Fat’ Insult Ends in Horror: Court Sentences Man to Death for Burning Wife Alive Over Skin Color and Body Shaming

Udaipur (The Uttam Hindu): In a landmark verdict that has sent shockwaves across the country, a court in Udaipur, Rajasthan, has sentenced a man to death for burning his wife alive under the pretext of making her “fairer.” The court also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on the convict, Kishan Das, holding him guilty of committing one of the most heinous crimes in recent memory.

The incident dates back to June 24, 2017, in Navaniya village, Vallabhnagar, where Kishan Das cruelly murdered his wife, Lakshmi, allegedly because he was dissatisfied with her dark complexion and body weight. According to the prosecution, he constantly taunted and emotionally abused her for not fitting into his perception of beauty.

On the night of the incident, Kishan Das brought home a chemical substance, falsely claiming it was a skin-lightening treatment. He convinced Lakshmi that applying it would make her fair. Tragically trusting her husband, Lakshmi allowed him to apply the chemical on her body. Moments later, he struck a match and set her on fire.

Her screams alerted family members, who rushed her to the hospital. Despite their efforts, Lakshmi succumbed to her injuries during treatment.

During the trial, Additional Public Prosecutor Dinesh Chandra Paliwal presented 14 eyewitnesses and 36 documentary pieces of evidence. Based on this compelling evidence, the court found Kishan Das guilty beyond doubt.

In his judgment, Judge Rahul Chaudhary remarked that the crime committed was one that “shakes the soul of society.” He described it as a “rarest of the rare” case that warranted the harshest punishment available under the law — the death penalty.

“Such brutality must be met with equally strong justice to ensure it is never repeated. Society must never tolerate this level of cruelty,” the judge observed in his order.