Mother gets life sentence after fatally stabbing teen daughter who lied about exam scores
Warning: This article includes mentions of violence against children and self-harm.
A 59-year-old woman in India was given a life sentence and imposed a fine of 50,000 RS (P33,204) for killing her daughter, who had lied about passing her exams when she had failed.
According to the Times of India, Bhimaneni Padmini Rani from Bengaluru, Karnataka, stabbed her only child, Sahiti Shivapriya, 17, several times on April 29, 2024, with two kitchen knives.
Local authorities told the outlet the attack happened after a heated argument as Sahiti allegedly lied to her mother about passing an exam with a 95 percent rating.
"But on April 28, Sahiti told Rani that she had failed one subject," Public Prosecutor Bhaskar said, adding that Sahiti also supposedly blamed her mother for the failure, accusing her of never supporting her.
"A furious Rani questioned Sahiti about the reason behind her poor performance. Sahiti replied in a rude manner," he added.
As per Rani's narrative to the police, she stabbed Sahiti with a small knife, "but it bent." She returned to the kitchen and collected two more to attack her child. Rani had also attempted to take her own life but was taken to the hospital.
After being treated, she was arrested and granted bail "months ago," as per TOI.
Rani also admitted that she felt ashamed and angry about her actions.
"I had boasted to my brothers and other relatives that Shaiti scored 95 percent [score] and was set to fly to the US for higher studies," Rani said as per a charge sheet filed by the police.
"If they would have come to know of the reality, I would have to face humiliation," she added.
As per The Independent, Sahiti was "under pressure to perform in her second year Pre-University Course (PUC) examinations."
'I loved her'
TOI also said that despite what happened, Rani "was deeply attached" to her daughter, especially when her husband died in 2020.
"But she did not show the same affection. I underwent knee replacement surgery and at that time, she never treated me with care or love."
Rani continued, "Still, believing that she would change in the future, I loved her."
