Dr Vandana Das Murder: Convict G Sandeep Sentenced To Life Imprisonment By Kollam Court

The Kollam Additional Sessions Court has sentenced G Sandeep in the murder of Dr Vandana Das, to life imprisonment on Saturday.

The court also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh. The sentence was pronounced by Sessions Judge P. N. Vinod after earlier finding the accused guilty in the brutal killing that shocked Kerala in 2023.

The incident took place on May 10, 2023, at Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital, where 22-year-old Dr Vandana Das was working as a house surgeon. She had completed her MBBS from Azeezia Medical College. She was the only daughter of K. G. Mohandas and Vasantha Kumari from Kottayam.

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According to the prosecution, Sandeep, a 42-year-old school teacher from Kollam, had called the police control room in the early hours claiming he was injured.

Police brought him to the hospital for treatment around 4:30 am.

While being treated, he suddenly turned violent. Armed with a pair of surgical scissors taken from the dressing room, he attacked several people before entering the observation room where Dr Vandana was present.

He stabbed the young doctor multiple times, reportedly over 25 times, causing severe injuries to her chest, neck, and head. Despite being rushed for advanced treatment, she succumbed to her injuries, triggering widespread outrage across the state.

During the trial, the prosecution presented strong evidence, including 70 witnesses, 27 documents, and 23 material exhibits. Sandeep had claimed mental illness as a defence, but a medical board, following directions from the Supreme Court of India, found no evidence of psychological disorder.

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The case had drawn massive protests from medical associations, including the Indian Medical Association, demanding better safety measures for healthcare workers. The murder was particularly shocking as it marked one of the rare instances of a doctor being killed inside a hospital in Kerala.

Following her death, several initiatives were announced in her memory, including a memorial clinic in Alappuzha and a proposed hospital in Kottayam.