The victim and the accused were flatmates in Kuwait and the latter stabbed the former accidentally. The accused, Arjun, is now a death-row convict and his life now depends on the mercy of the victim's kin. Arjun was given the death penalty in 2016 after three years of being in jail.
The entire incident could well be compared with Nagesh Kukunoor's film Dor, released in 2006. Like the film, this incident too relates to two woman- one, the wife of a murderer and the other, the wife of the victim. What remains to be seen, however, whether the real life story has any resonance from the reel life one.
37-year-old Malathy from Tamil Nadu arrived in Kerala on August 16 to meet the family of the man her husband had mistakenly murdered in Saudi Arabia. She had to convince them to forgive her husband, if she had to save him from death (as per the Saudi law and order). It is a race against time and all her previous efforts turned futile. She now has exactly 10 days to get their mercy.
Malathy's husband Arjun and the victim were flatmates in Kuwait, back in 2013. Malathy says that her husband accidentally stabbed the victim during a fight in Kuwait. Following which, Arjun was given the death penalty in 2016 after three years of being in jail. However, there is one thing that can save Arjun's life. According to the Sharia law, a person can be acquitted of murder only if a close kin to the victim decides to pardon the accused. While Malathy has been trying her best to convince the Kerala man's family for pardon, this would be her last chance to save her husband. In the mean time, Arjun's life depends on whether Malathy is able to pay up the blood money of Rs 30 lakh that the victim's family is demanding. However, there is no way Malathy can gather so much money. Even selling her little house in Tamil Nadu will fetch her only Rs 10 lakh.
Speaking to the local media, she said, "I know that the money they ask will not compensate for a life, but I don't know how I will manage. He (Arjun) will be hanged to death in 10 days. I request your help to save my husband. We are in a big trouble. We have no way to move forward. At least for the sake of my daughter, I am begging for his life." According to newspaper reports, the victim is survived by his wife and a 13-year-old daughter. Since the victim was the sole breadwinner of the family, his death has left them in a terrible state.
