Uthra Snake Bite Case

 

The **Uthra Snake Bite Case**, also known as the **Kerala Snakebite Murder Case**, is regarded as one of the most unusual and meticulously planned murder cases in India's criminal history. The incident took place in **Anchal, Kollam district, Kerala**, in 2020 and involved the murder of **Uthra**, a 25-year-old woman, by her husband **Sooraj S. Kumar**, who used venomous snakes as the murder weapon in an attempt to make her death appear accidental.

Uthra married Sooraj, a private bank employee, in 2018. The couple had a young son and, according to investigators, the marriage initially appeared normal. However, police later found evidence suggesting that Sooraj was motivated by financial gain. Uthra had received substantial gold, cash, and other assets as part of the marriage, and investigators alleged that Sooraj wanted to retain these benefits while avoiding the financial consequences of a separation. He also reportedly researched venomous snakes online and learned how to handle them by watching videos before executing his plan.

The first murder attempt took place on **March 2, 2020**, when Sooraj allegedly arranged for a **Russell's viper** to bite Uthra inside their home. Although the bite caused severe injuries and left her bedridden for nearly two months, she survived after extensive medical treatment and plastic surgery. During her recovery, she moved to her parents' house in Anchal, where her family believed she would be safe.

Determined to complete his plan, Sooraj allegedly contacted a snake catcher and purchased a **cobra**. According to the prosecution, he kept the snake in a container and waited for an opportunity. On the night of **May 6, 2020**, investigators alleged that he gave Uthra sleeping tablets so she would remain unconscious. He then released the cobra into the bedroom and forced it to bite her while she slept. Uthra was found unconscious the following morning and was declared dead on **May 7, 2020**. A live cobra was discovered inside the room, initially leading many to believe that her death was a tragic accident.

The investigation took an unexpected turn when police noticed inconsistencies in Sooraj's statements and questioned how Uthra could have suffered two separate venomous snakebites within such a short period. Kerala Police launched an intensive scientific investigation involving forensic experts, wildlife officials, toxicologists, and snake experts. Officers reconstructed the crime using mannequins and examined the snake's behavior, concluding that the bite was unlikely to have occurred naturally. Mobile phone records, internet search history, witness testimony, and evidence linking Sooraj to a snake catcher further strengthened the prosecution's case. The investigation also included forensic examination of the cobra, making it one of India's most scientifically investigated homicide cases.

During the trial, prosecutors argued that Sooraj had carefully planned the murder and attempted to disguise it as an accidental snakebite. The court accepted the scientific and circumstantial evidence, finding him guilty of murder, attempted murder, administering poison, and destruction of evidence. On **October 13, 2021**, the Kollam Additional Sessions Court sentenced Sooraj to **double life imprisonment**, along with additional prison terms and fines for the related offences. The court described the crime as exceptionally cruel and premeditated.

The Uthra case attracted nationwide attention because of its rare modus operandi and the extensive use of forensic science in securing a conviction. It is now widely studied in criminology and investigative training as an example of how meticulous forensic analysis can uncover even the most carefully disguised murders.