Saturday, May 21 2005 15:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: A self-proclaimed godman Swami Shraddhananda was today (May 21, 2005) sentenced to death by a city court after he was convicted for murdering his wife Shakereh 14 years ago.

Pronouncing the sentence, Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge B S Totad said he shall be hanged by neck till his death.

The court said execution of the sentence shall not be carried out till it is confirmed by the High Court. The judge also directed the jail officials to submit papers relating to the case to the High Court.

The judge had yesterday (May 20, 2005) convicted Shraddhananda for murdering Shakereh, capping a trial in the sensational case that lasted more than a decade.

Shraddhananda was the second husband of Shakereh, granddaughter of the former "Diwan" of erstwhile Mysore State, Mirza Ismail, and former wife of Akbar Khaleeli, former Indian High Commissioner to Australia.