Hathras Court Delivers Life Sentence in 2023 Wife Murder Case
A district and sessions court in Hathras has delivered a significant verdict, sentencing a man and his mother to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his 21-year-old wife in October 2023. The judgment comes despite the victim's family turning hostile during the trial proceedings, presenting a challenging legal scenario.
Court Imposes Fine Alongside Life Term
District and Sessions Judge Vinay Kumar pronounced the sentence on Sunday, imposing a life term on both convicts. In addition to the imprisonment, the court levied a fine of Rs 5,000 on each defendant. District Government Counsel Vishwas Bahadur Pundir confirmed the details of the sentencing, highlighting the court's firm stance against the crime.
Background of the Tragic Case
The case originated on October 20, 2023, when Bablu, the father of the deceased Poonam and a resident of Etah district, filed a formal complaint. He accused his son-in-law Bobby Kumar, a 25-year-old daily wage laborer from Nagla Kachhi village in Hathras, and Bobby's mother, 50-year-old Sunita Devi, of killing his daughter.
According to the initial complaint, Poonam had married Bobby in 2020. Soon after the wedding, she allegedly faced continuous harassment over dowry demands. On the day of the incident, Bobby took Poonam from her parental home to his residence. Later that evening, Bablu received the devastating news of his daughter's death.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Police were immediately notified, and a postmortem examination confirmed that Poonam died from strangulation. Based on the evidence, authorities registered a case against Bobby and Sunita under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Dowry Prohibition Act.
The charges included Section 496-A (pertaining to physical or mental abuse and harassment to force unlawful demands for property), Section 304-B (dowry death), and relevant provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act. Both accused were subsequently arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
Hostile Witnesses and Court's Reliance on Evidence
During the trial, a significant development occurred when the deceased's parents did not support the prosecution's case and turned hostile as witnesses. This created a substantial obstacle for the prosecution team.
However, the court demonstrated its commitment to justice by relying heavily on the postmortem report and comprehensive investigation findings. These documents provided crucial evidence that helped establish the case as a clear instance of murder.
Final Verdict and Acquittal on Some Charges
On Saturday, the court convicted both Bobby Kumar and Sunita Devi under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. The judgment specifically noted that the evidence supported the murder charge beyond reasonable doubt.
Interestingly, the court acquitted the defendants of the dowry death charges and other related accusations. This nuanced decision reflects the court's careful examination of the evidence presented during the trial, distinguishing between different aspects of the case while delivering justice for the murder itself.
The case highlights the complexities often encountered in dowry-related violence cases, where witness testimony can become compromised. Yet it also demonstrates how forensic evidence and thorough investigation can overcome such challenges to ensure accountability for violent crimes against women.
