Stalker who pushed college student to death in front of train in Chennai sentenced to death

He was fined Rs 35,000, and the court ordered Rs 10 lakh compensation for the victim’s younger sisters. The judgment was delivered by Judge J Sridevi of the Mahila Court in Chennai, following Sathish’s conviction on December 27 for murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and harassment under Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu anti-harassment law. The death sentence is subject to confirmation by the Madras High Court.

The victim, S Sathya, was a college student in Tambaram, south of Chennai. On October 13, 2022, Sathya was waiting at the St Thomas Mount railway station with a classmate to board a train when Sathish approached her. A former friend turned stalker, Sathish had been harassing Sathya since her engagement a month earlier. The two had a heated argument before Sathish shoved Sathya onto the tracks just as a train hurtled into the station. She died instantly.

Eyewitnesses reported the horrific scene, and CCTV footage captured the crime, forming a crucial part of the evidence presented during the trial. Sathish, who fled the scene, was arrested in a few hours.

Soon after the news of her death reached Sathya’s home, her father died by suicide. Both Sathya and Sathish lived in police quarters in Alandur, a neighbourhood in Chennai. Sathya’s mother is a police constable, and Sathish’s father a retired sub-inspector. The families had once been friends, but the relationship soured due to Sathish’s obsessive behaviour.

During the trial, over 70 witnesses testified against Sathish. “The accused is sentenced to death and is to be hanged by the neck till he is dead,” the judge said in her order.

The judgment will now move to the Madras High Court for confirmation, a standard procedure.