Bengaluru, October 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Karnataka State Cabinet is likely to consider the mercy petitions filed by Shubha Shankarnarayan and her co-convicts in the sensational 2003 Ring Road Shubha murder case in Bengaluru.
The petitions were submitted to the Governor after the Supreme Court upheld the life sentences imposed on the convicts for the murder of B.V. Girish, a young software engineer. The Governor’s office has since forwarded the petitions to the state government, particularly the Home Department, seeking its opinion on the requests for clemency.
The Cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday may consider the petitions and decide whether to recommend granting or rejecting the requests before submitting its report to the Governor.
The case dates back to December 3, 2003, when Girish, a 27-year-old software engineer working with Intel, was murdered just four days after his engagement to Shubha.
According to the prosecution, Shubha took Girish to the Outer Ring Road area on the pretext of watching an aircraft land. Her associates allegedly attacked him with a metal rod, inflicting severe injuries. He later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Investigators alleged that Shubha, who was opposed to the engagement arranged by her family, conspired with Arun Varma, with whom she was reportedly in a relationship, and two others, Venkatesh and Dinesh, to murder Girish.
Shubha, Arun Varma, Venkatesh and Dinesh were convicted of murder and criminal conspiracy under Sections 302 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Karnataka High Court upheld their convictions and sentences, which were subsequently affirmed by the Supreme Court.
While upholding the life sentences, the Supreme Court acknowledged the social and family pressures associated with forced marriage. It also granted the convicts an eight-week window to submit mercy petitions to the Karnataka Governor before enforcement of their arrest.
Following the verdict, Shubha and the other convicts approached the Governor seeking clemency. The state government’s opinion on their petitions is now expected to play a key role in the next stage of the process.
The case attracted widespread public attention and later inspired the Kannada film Ring Road Shubha, released in 2014 and made by an all-women crew.
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