A court in Udaipur, northern India, has sentenced a man to death for killing his wife by setting her on fire after repeatedly taunting her about her dark skin.
Judge Rahul Choudhary ruled that the case represented the “rarest of the rare” category, calling it not only a crime against the victim but “a crime against humanity.”
The case dates back to June 2017, when 24-year-old Lakshmi was attacked by her husband Kishandas, a year after their marriage.
According to her statements given to police, doctors, and a magistrate before she died, Kishandas routinely insulted her complexion, calling her “kali,” a derogatory reference to dark skin.
On the night of the attack, he brought home a bottle of liquid, claiming it was a skin-lightening medicine. Lakshmi said the liquid smelled like acid.
Kishandas smeared it on her body before setting her alight with an incense stick.
As she burned, he poured more of the liquid on her and fled. His family later rushed her to hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Judge Choudhary said Kishandas had betrayed his wife’s trust with “excessive cruelty,” describing the killing as an act that “shocks the conscience of humanity.”
Public prosecutor Dinesh Paliwal welcomed the sentence as “historic,” arguing that it would serve as a lesson against gender-based violence.
The order has been sent to the High Court for confirmation, while Kishandas has 30 days to appeal.
His lawyer insists the death was accidental and his client has been wrongly convicted.
The ruling has reignited debate over India’s deep-rooted preference for fair skin.
Campaigners point out that colourism continues to shape social attitudes, from matrimonial ads favoring lighter-skinned brides to the booming sales of skin-lightening products.
Women with darker skin often face harassment within marriages, with several cases of abuse and suicides linked to such prejudice.
While activists have pushed back against colour-based discrimination, they note that progress is slow and cultural biases remain entrenched.
Lakshmi’s murder has once again exposed how damaging these attitudes can be — turning entrenched prejudice into deadly violence.