Life Sentence Convicts to Tie the Knot After Rajasthan High Court Grants Parole
In an extraordinary development emerging from within the confines of the justice system, two individuals convicted in separate, brutal murder cases are preparing to exchange vows this Friday. Their relationship, which blossomed while both were serving life sentences, has culminated in a wedding sanctioned by a recent parole grant from the Rajasthan High Court.
A Union Forged Behind Bars
The couple, identified as Priya Seth (34) and Hanuman Prasad (29), met and developed a bond while lodged at the open-air prison facility in Sanganer, Jaipur. Sources indicate their relationship has been ongoing for nearly a year. Their wedding ceremony is scheduled to take place in Barodameo, Prasad's native village located in the Alwar district.
Separate Paths to Incarceration
The backgrounds of the bride and groom are marked by severe criminal convictions from 2023.
Priya Seth was found guilty for the 2018 murder of Dushyant Sharma (27) in Jaipur. The case garnered significant public attention when police discovered Sharma's body packed inside a suitcase on the city's outskirts. Investigations revealed that Seth and Sharma had connected through a dating application. Sharma was subsequently held captive at Seth's rented residence in Bajaj Nagar before being killed and his body disposed of in the suitcase.
Hanuman Prasad was convicted for his involvement in a gruesome 2017 Alwar case. The crime involved the murder of a man, his three sons, and a nephew. According to police reports, Prasad had developed a relationship with the man's wife, Santosh Sharma. The pair allegedly conspired to eliminate the family. The victims were first drugged before Prasad and accomplices carried out the killings.
Judicial Intervention Paves the Way for Parole
The path to their wedding was cleared through legal channels. On January 7, the Rajasthan High Court directed the parole committee to adjudicate on the convicts' parole applications within a seven-day timeframe, as confirmed by their counsel, Vishram Prajapat.
Acting promptly on this judicial order, the committee granted both Seth and Prasad a 15-day parole, which commenced this past Wednesday. This temporary release from custody allows them to proceed with their marital plans.
Understanding the Open-Air Camp System
The environment where their relationship began is governed by specific regulations. An official explained that under the Rajasthan Prisoners Open Air Camp Rules, 1972, a dedicated six-member committee is responsible for deciding which inmates are transferred to an open-air camp. In these facilities, convicts are permitted to leave for work during the day but must return to the camp each evening, offering a degree of freedom within the penal system.
Legal Opposition and Future Challenges
However, the parole decision has not been met with universal approval. Sandeep Loharia, the legal counsel representing the victim's family in the Priya Seth case, has voiced strong opposition. Loharia stated that the family was not informed by the committee even after the parole was granted.
"We were not informed by the committee even after the parole was granted. We will appeal against it in the high court," Loharia asserted, indicating that a legal challenge to the parole order is imminent. This sets the stage for potential further hearings in the Rajasthan High Court regarding the appropriateness of the parole grant.
This unusual case sits at the intersection of criminal justice, human relationships, and judicial discretion, raising complex questions about rehabilitation, punishment, and the personal rights of those convicted of serious crimes.
