A court in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced Ravita Kashyap and Amardeep to death for the murder of Amit Kashyap, Ravita’s husband, after finding that the killing had been staged to resemble a snakebite. Additional District and Sessions Judge Jaiveer Singh Nagar delivered the sentence on October 16, 2026.
Background
Amit was found dead at his home in Akbarpur Sadat village on April 13, 2025, with a live snake beside his body. His family initially suspected that he had died from a snakebite. However, the post-mortem examination indicated that he had died from strangulation, with injuries to his neck and nose.
According to the prosecution, Ravita and Amardeep had developed a relationship, which led to disputes after Amit learned about it. Investigators alleged that the two strangled Amit while he was asleep and placed a snake near his body to make the death appear accidental. The prosecution also presented evidence concerning the procurement of the snake and examined 12 witnesses during the trial.
While explaining the importance of punishment, the judgment reportedly stated,
“Fear of punishment keeps society under control. Without punishment, the wicked would prey upon the righteous.”
The court also referred to the traditional ideal of a wife as her husband’s ardhangini, meaning an equal or complementary half, and invoked the example of Savitri from Hindu tradition.
The court awarded the death penalty to both Ravita and Amardeep, treating the case as falling within the “rarest of rare” category, the legal standard applied to the most exceptional cases warranting capital punishment.
It also directed the Meerut District Magistrate to ensure food, education and accommodation for Amit’s three minor children.
