Sister killed for opposing love marriage in Narsinghpur:MP HC terms it jealousy-driven mental perversion; orders state to frame policy within 90 days

In the case concerning the murder of a younger sister who opposed her elder sister’s proposed love marriage, the accused sister and her partner have suffered a major legal setback. The Madhya Pradesh High Court, sitting at Jabalpur, has declined to stay the life imprisonment sentence awarded to Khushboo and her lover Rahul in the widely reported Narsinghpur Shikha murder case. During the hearing, the High Court made significant observations and issued key directions to the state government. The bench described the crime as reflecting “mental perversion arising from jealousy between sisters” and emphasised that safeguarding the mental health of young people is also the responsibility of the state. Directions on Mental Health Policy The Court directed the state government to appoint mental health specialists in schools and colleges. It further ordered the establishment of mental health clinics in all district hospitals across the state. The bench of Justice Vivek Agrawal and Justice Ratnesh Chandra Singh Bisen instructed the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh to formulate and implement a comprehensive mental health policy. The Court has granted 90 days for compliance and submission of a progress report. Background of the murder The murder occurred in Narsinghpur on 22 March 2023. Khushboo had developed a relationship through social media with Rahul Singh, a resident of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. The two intended to marry. However, Khushboo’s younger sister, Shikha, opposed the relationship. According to the prosecution, Khushboo administered sleeping pills to her mother to ensure she remained unconscious. She then summoned Rahul from Amethi, and together they allegedly murdered Shikha. Initially, Khushboo claimed that her sister had died after slipping in the bathroom, but injury marks on the body raised suspicion. During sustained police interrogation, she confessed to the crime. Trial court verdict upheld On 18 December 2024, the Narsinghpur District Court sentenced both Khushboo and Rahul to life imprisonment. The convicts challenged the verdict before the High Court, seeking a stay on the sentence. After hearing the matter, the High Court on Friday refused to suspend the life terms, thereby allowing the trial court’s judgment to remain in force.