A North Goa sessions court has delivered its verdict in a tragic 2019 case, sentencing a 55-year-old man to six and a half years in prison for assaulting his elderly, bed-ridden mother, which led to her death. The court found Sandeep Verlekar guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder for the incident that occurred in Merces.
The Tragic Incident and Arrest
The case dates back to 2019 when Sandeep Verlekar, under the influence of alcohol, assaulted his 69-year-old mother, Laxmibai. The prosecution stated that Verlekar dragged his bedridden mother from her bed, hit her with his fists, and left her out on the verandah. The elderly woman later succumbed to the injuries sustained during this assault. Following the incident, Verlekar was arrested in November 2019 and had remained in custody since.
Court Proceedings and Arguments
During the trial, the arguments presented painted a stark picture. Public prosecutor Roy D'Souza pushed for the maximum sentence, emphasizing the severity of assaulting one's own helpless, bedridden mother. On the other side, defense counsel Rohan Desai, appearing through free legal aid, highlighted that Verlekar had been in custody for over six years and had two children to support.
The presiding judge, Sessions Judge Irshad Agha, carefully considered the circumstances. The court observed that Verlekar's actions, while horrific, were committed while he was heavily intoxicated. Judge Agha concluded that there was no evidence to suggest Verlekar intended to kill his mother, stating, "I also came to the conclusion that the act of assault committed by the accused was not committed with an intention to kill his own mother. Although it is a death caused, he never intended to kill his own mother."
Leniency and Final Sentence
Based on this assessment of lacking murderous intent, the court decided to take a lenient view. The judge noted that Verlekar had no complaints of misbehavior during his time in custody and that his imprisonment had acted as a form of rehabilitation, as he had no access to alcohol. The court stated, "In this context, I do not find any reason that the accused will again turn alcoholic to commit any such act."
The final sentence handed down was rigorous imprisonment for a period of six years and six months. However, the court directed that the period Verlekar had already spent in jail—6 years, 1 month, and 11 days—be set off against this sentence. This means he will be released after serving the remaining balance of his term.
This ruling by the North Goa sessions court brings a legal conclusion to a case that highlights the devastating consequences of alcoholism and violence within families.
