Life Convict Swami Shraddhanand Moves Supreme Court For Early Decision On His Mercy Petition

Swami Shraddhanand alias Murali Manohar Mishra, the 85-yr-old self-styled godman who has been in jail since about 30 years following conviction for the murder of his wife Shakereh Khaleeli (granddaughter of Dewan of Mysore, Sir Mirza Ismail), has moved the Supreme Court seeking expeditious decision on his mercy petition.The matter was listed yesterday before a bench of Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih, which adjourned it at the request of Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj (for Union), giving him 2 weeks' time to obtain instructions.Advocate Varun Thakur appeared for Swami Shraddhanand and argued that the self-styled godman has continuously been in jail for over 30 years without a single day of parole. He further urged that Shraddhanand is suffering from various ailments and the present petition has been filed so that the mercy plea is decided as soon as possible.On Justice Gavai observing that it seemed to be Shraddhanand's 7th or 8th petition before the Court, Thakur explained that that was not the case and gave details of the petitions filed earlier. These included - (i) a review petition filed seeking reconsideration of the judgment which imposed life sentence (without remission) upon Shraddhanand, (ii) a writ petition (2014) seeking parole and stay of Amazon Prime docuseries 'Dancing on the Grave' (pertaining to Khaleeli's murder), which was not entertained and ultimately withdrawn, and (iii) another writ petition seeking parole which was dismissed in September, 2024.Notably, during one of the proceedings mentioned above, the top Court was informed that Shraddhanand has made a representation for pardon before the President of India under Article 72 of the Constitution.On hearing the counsel, Justice Gavai remarked, "you (Shraddhanand) must thank this Court...that you were saved that time...". The judge also noted it was Shraddhanand's case that formed the origin of the "middle-path law" - ie life sentence upto death without remission (a middle ground between the traditional life imprisonment and death penalty).BackgroundAfter ending her first marriage of 21 years, Shakereh Khaleeli got married to Shraddhanand in the year 1986. Sometime between April-May, 1994, she disappeared. In June, one of her daughters from the first marriage filed a missing persons complaint in Bangalore.After 3 years, in 1994, the police found Khaleeli buried in her Bangalore house. Investigation revealed that she was drugged and buried alive by Shraddhanand, after she executed a general power of attorney and will in his favor.Shraddhanand was arrested in 1994. In 2000, he was convicted by a Karnataka court and sentenced to death. The Karnataka High Court upheld the death sentence in 2005.Initially when Shraddhanand appealed to the Supreme Court, a split verdict came to be delivered in 2007. The matter was referred to a larger bench and the same led to commuting of his death sentence in 2008 to a sentence of imprisonment until death.Case Title: SWAMY SHRADDANANDA @ MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA v. UNION OF INDIA, W.P.(Crl.) No. 5/2025Click Here To Read/Download Order

Life Convict Swami Shraddhanand Moves Supreme Court For Early Decision On His Mercy Petition

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