Archive · 24 Jan 2026
Telangana HC Acquits Woman in Filicide Case
The Telangana High Court made a big decision about a woman named Banothu Bharathi.
She was sentenced to death for harming her baby in 2021.
The court said she should not be punished because she was not thinking clearly at the time.
They said she was acting because of her beliefs and not because she wanted to do something bad.
The court decided to let her go and sent her to a place where she can get help for her mind.
The court also said that what she did was not a crime because she was not in the right state of mind.
The Telangana High Court acquitted Banothu Bharathi, who was convicted of killing her seven-month-old daughter in 2021.
The court ruled that her conduct was more consistent with psychotic ideation than criminal design, granting her the benefit of the general exception under Section 84 of the IPC.
The appellant believed she had 'Sarpadosham' (a curse) and performed a ritual sacrifice influenced by superstitious beliefs and YouTube videos.
The court directed that she be transferred from Chanchalguda Prison to the Institute of Mental Health in Erragadda for continued care and treatment.
The original conviction and death penalty were imposed by the Ist Additional District and Sessions Judge at Suryapet in April 2025.
- Who
- Telangana High Court, Banothu Bharathi alias Lasya
- What
- Acquittal of a woman convicted of filicide, setting aside the death penalty
- When
- Friday (specific date not mentioned), Incident on April 15, 2021, Conviction in April 2025
- Where
- Telangana High Court, Hyderabad, Incident in Suryapet
- Why
- The court ruled that the appellant's conduct was more consistent with psychotic ideation than criminal design, granting her the benefit of the general exception under Section 84 of the IPC
- Convict
- Banothu Bharathi alias Lasya
- Crime
- Filicide
- Original Sentence
- Death penalty
- High Court Decision
- Acquitted and set aside death penalty
- Reason for Acquittal
- Psychotic ideation, not criminal design
- Legal Provision
- Section 84 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)
- Current Status
- Transferred to Institute of Mental Health for treatment
- Date of Incident
- April 15, 2021
- Date of Conviction
- April 2025
Sources
High Court Sets Aside Death for Woman Convicted of Murdering Baby
300 Dogs Found Dead in Pit Near Hyderabad; 900 Killed This Month in Telangana
