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Monday, February 16, 2026
TopicDeath penalty

Topic: Death penalty

Why was Chittoor mayor’s 2015 murder ‘rarest of rare’? The family feud behind death penalty

Five people have been sentenced to death for the brutal killing of Chittoor Mayor Katari Anuradha and her husband in 2015. A year earlier, they’d staged a dharna for the ‘mastermind’.

DNA tests by botanist, a ‘confession’ & a missing witness—2 acquitted by SC in minor’s rape-murder

The Supreme Court has set aside the death penalty of the main accused, and the jail sentence of another suspect in the 2014 POCSO case.

Trial held in absence of death-row convict. What led SC to acquit UP man

The man was sentenced to death for killing his wife & daughter. Ordering a retrial in the 2014 case, court said even those accused of most heinous crimes are entitled to protection of law.

Death penalty in Sharon Raj murder case, life term to RG Kar rape-murder convict? Here’s why

Both courts acknowledged that death penalty can only be granted in 'rarest of rare' cases.

‘Blatantly erroneous’ — how 56 death sentences in 14 months defied latest Supreme Court guidelines

From not seeking mental health reports of convicts to ignoring mitigating factors, many trial courts have sidestepped Supreme Court’s guidelines while awarding the death penalty.

China executes kindergarten teacher for poisoning nursery children four years ago

The former teacher, Wang Yun, poisoned the preschoolers' porridge with sodium nitrite, resulting in the death of one child and injuries to 24 others.

Psychiatric report, conduct in jail — what led Delhi HC to commute death sentence of minor’s killer

Bench relied on landmark 2022 judgment when Supreme Court issued guidelines and made psychological evaluation mandatory when considering death penalty for a convict.

Palwal ‘psycho killer’ and the long night of carnage—death penalty doesn’t end it

Former Armyman Naresh Dhankar bludgeoned six people to death within 90 minutes in January 2018. A district court sentenced him to death, rejecting his insanity plea.

How a 15-yr-old spent 5 yrs on death row for rape-murder before being released by Supreme Court

The accused was sentenced to death for the 2017 rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in Madhya Pradesh. SC has upheld his conviction, but set aside his death sentence.

‘Women considered goddesses, but raped’, says UP court awarding death penalty to two men

They were convicted of gang raping & brutalising a minor. JudgePankaj Kumar Srivastava noted it was the rarest of rare cases, a blotch on society and severe punishment necessary for peace of parents.

On Camera

How Nehru defended restrictions on freedom of speech and the press

On 29 May 1951, Jawaharlal Nehru defended adding 'reasonable restrictions' to Article 19, arguing that free speech must be balanced with national security and unity.

Andhra proposes Rs 100-cr wealth fund, eyes Norway-style sovereign fund model to drive growth

Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav presented a Rs 3.32 lakh crore budget for 2026–27 in the assembly Saturday.

Top US military commander applauds ‘India’s tactical execution’ during Op Sindoor; adds ‘there’s lessons too’

On bilateral ties, Admiral Paparo said India-US ties have an exponential effect on deterrence, because it demonstrates a unity of purpose among us to maintain the peace.

The new Great Game—Trump’s playing for time, China for leverage & India for wiggle room

This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.