In a significant verdict, the Uttarakhand High Court has upheld the life imprisonment sentence of a software engineer convicted for the brutal 2010 murder of his wife in Dehradun, a case that shocked the nation with its gruesome details of dismemberment.
A Marriage That Ended in Horror
The case revolves around Rajesh Gulati, a Delhi native, and his wife Anupama, who was originally from Odisha. The couple married in 1999 and initially moved to the United States. Their lives took a turn when Gulati lost his job during the 2008 global recession, prompting their return to India and eventual settlement in Dehradun.
Investigations revealed that after taking up a job with a small private firm in Dehradun, the couple's relationship became strained, marked by frequent disputes. This tension set the stage for the tragic events that followed.
The Night of the Murder and Gruesome Cover-up
According to the prosecution's case, on the night of October 17, 2010, a heated argument escalated into violence. Gulati allegedly slapped Anupama, causing her to fall and strike her head against a wall, rendering her unconscious. Fearing the consequences if she woke up, he proceeded to kill her.
What followed was a chilling and methodical attempt to erase the crime. Police stated that Gulati purchased an electric saw and a deep freezer. He then cut his wife's body into 72 pieces, stored them in plastic bags inside the freezer, and gradually disposed of the remains at various secluded locations across Dehradun.
Discovery of the Crime and Legal Proceedings
The crime came to light nearly two months later, on December 12, 2010, after Anupama's brother, Sujan Kumar, grew suspicious. Unable to contact his sister for days, he visited the couple's residence in Prakash Nagar colony in the Cantonment area. When Gulati failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for Anupama's whereabouts, Sujan Kumar filed a missing person complaint.
A subsequent search of the house led to the horrific discovery of body parts and evidence, resulting in Gulati's immediate arrest. After a lengthy trial, a Dehradun court in 2017 convicted Rajesh Gulati of murder, sentencing him to life imprisonment and imposing a fine of Rs 15 lakh.
Gulati appealed the verdict, but on Wednesday, a division bench of the Uttarakhand High Court comprising Justice Ravindra Mathani and Justice Alok Mahra dismissed his appeal. The bench upheld the trial court's judgment, confirming the life term and bringing a measure of closure to a case that has lingered for over a decade.
This ruling reinforces the judiciary's stance on severe crimes and marks the end of a long legal battle in one of Dehradun's most notorious criminal cases.
