The family of Tara “Geeta” Ramsaroop and her infant daughter Shermaya, who were killed by her estranged husband, are grateful to the judge and the judicial system following his conviction and death sentence.
On Monday, Justice Nalini Singh found Rishi Motilal, 31, guilty on two counts of murder.
Tara Ramsaroop and her infant Jada, with the child’s father Rishi Motilal.
Motilal was convicted for the deaths of Ramsaroop, 31, and their 14-month-old daughter, Shermaya Motilal.
In the judge-alone trial, the court heard that the killings unfolded on October 8, 2024, at Motilal’s home on Rig Road in Barrackpore, after a dispute between the couple escalated violently.
According to the State’s case, Motilal struck Ramsaroop with an iron pipe before arming himself with a cutlass, which he used to chop her a number of times before slitting her throat. He then used the same weapon to kill the child.
After the attack, Motilal left the home in a blue station wagon belonging to a relative of Ramsaroop’s new partner.
When the Express visited Ramsaroop’s family in Barrackpore yesterday, her sister, Jassodra Rajaram, wept as she expressed satisfaction over the guilty verdict and the death sentence.
“I am very grateful and thankful to the judge. If I could just meet her, I would hug her and say, ‘thanks very much for justice for my sister’. I wish she were right here to hug her and tell her thanks.”
Rajaram broke down in tears, describing the verdict as a moment of long-awaited justice for her sister and niece.
She said the family was overwhelmed with emotion and relief in the aftermath of her sister suffering repeated violence and abuse.
Tara Ramsaroop and her infant Jada, with the child’s father Rishi Motilal.
“I am grateful to Judge Singh. When I got the news (Wednesday) I was so elated to know that it was just after 16 months that we got justice. People have been waiting for years to get justice and never did. My family are content that we got justice,” said the sister.
‘This will never heal’
Rajaram stressed, though, that the emotional pain and traumatic manner in which the double murder occurred has left her scarred for life.
“This will never heal; it has been 16 months and I feel it has been only yesterday. When we were getting the verdict, I feel my heart was pounding out of my chest. Everything came back fresh. The sentencing cannot bring them back and we have to learn to adjust to live. We cannot heal from this,” she told the Express.
Rajaram claimed numerous reports to the police about the abuse of her sister went unheard.
“To the police, think of the women in these reports as if they were your family members—your sister, mother or someone close to you. Say, ‘let me get myself involved and help in this situation’,” said Rajaram.
“I went with my sister multiple times to make reports, but (police officers) did not take them. They used to say that they were husband and wife and would make up. But not everyone wants to make up and reconcile. Some women want to leave and never go back.”
She said when Ramsaroop eventually ended the relationship with Motilal and left their home, he stalked her, broke into her home, and then the fatal attack occurred.
“She went through torture with him,” Rajaram said.
While welcoming the court’s decision, she also used the opportunity to urge other women in abusive relationships to prioritise their safety and seek help.
She acknowledged the difficulty of leaving such situations but stressed that doing so could save lives.
Her message to women in abusive relationships?
“Get out of it. I know it is hard. I used to go through it with my sister. Some men feel they own women, and act as if they are property. These men have to realise that women have feelings and ambitions.
“My sister wanted to work, achieve, and accomplish. She endured enough. She came out of it and was happy to build her house, sit on her step, and be at peace—not knowing that was when her life was going to end.”
