Udaipur, Rajasthan – September 3, 2025 — An Indian court has delivered a death sentence to a man for the heinous act of burning his wife alive—motivated by deep-seated colorism and body-shaming. The verdict was delivered by the Additional District and Sessions Court in Vallabhnagar, Udaipur district, for a crime committed in June 2017.

A Crime Driven by Cruel Prejudice

According to court documents, the husband—identified as Kishandas (or Kishanlal)—had a long history of derogatory remarks about his wife’s appearance, regularly calling her “dark” and “fat” and pressuring her with harmful beauty standards. On the night of June 24, 2017, he deceived her with a bottle containing a mysterious liquid he claimed was skin-lightening medicine. After she complained about a strong, acidic smell, he doused her with the liquid and set her on fire. He then poured more of the same substance over her body as she burned.

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“Crime Against Humanity,” Rules the Judge

In its ruling, the court categorized the brutal murder among the “rarest of the rare” cases warranting the death penalty, stressing its disturbing cruelty and moral depravity. Judge Rahul Choudhary described the act as not just murder, but a “crime against humanity”, stating:

“It causes such a shock to the consciousness of entire humanity that it cannot even be imagined in a healthy and civilised society.”

Prosecution: A Historic Verdict

The public prosecutor, Dinesh Paliwal, called the verdict “historic”, underlining its importance in combating gender-based violence and societal prejudices. He implored society to recognize the humanity of women subjected to such abuse, advocating for stronger protections:

“A young woman in her early 20s was murdered brutally. If we don’t save our daughters, then who would?”

Legal Path Forward: Appeals Pending

Kishandas has the right to appeal the decision within 30 days, following formal procedures. The case will now move to the High Court for confirmation. His lawyer has argued that the wife’s death was accidental, signaling a protracted legal battle ahead.

Breaking Down Colorism and Gender-Based Violence

This incident brings national attention to the pernicious issue of colorism—a bias that values lighter skin over darker tones—and its intersection with domestic violence:

• Colorism remains a deep-rooted problem, often manifesting in marital abuse and extreme prejudice.

• Use of “skin-lightening medicine” as a weapon demonstrates how societal pressures on beauty can escalate into violence.

• The verdict sets a critical legal precedent, affirming that violent acts motivated by such biases are unacceptable and punishable by the severest sentence.