Wife Murders Sleeping Husband By Strangling Him With Nylon Rope: Telangana High Court Sentences Her To Life
Curated by NEWS DESK
Editorial DeskTELANGANA: The Telangana High Court has upheld the life imprisonment of a woman convicted of murdering her husband by strangling him with a nylon rope while he was sleeping. The Court dismissed her criminal appeal after finding that the medical evidence, witness statements and other circumstances proved her guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
A Division Bench of Justice K. Lakshman and Justice K. Sujana confirmed the conviction of Wife under Sections 302 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for murdering her husband and attempting to conceal the crime.
According to the prosecution, the incident took place on January 18, 2016. Following frequent marital disputes and alleged harassment, Laxmi strangled her sleeping husband with a nylon rope.
After his death, she reportedly informed relatives and neighbours that Komuraiah had died because of excessive alcohol consumption. However, the following morning, when his body was being bathed, a visible ligature mark was noticed around his neck.
The suspicious injury raised questions about the actual cause of death. When questioned, Laxmi allegedly confessed to killing her husband.
During the trial, the prosecution relied on medical evidence, witness testimonies, an extra-judicial confession and the recovery of the nylon rope allegedly used in the murder.
The medical findings played an important role in the case. The doctors found a ligature mark on the deceased's neck and a fractured hyoid bone, supporting the conclusion that he had died due to strangulation rather than excessive drinking.
The High Court examined the evidence and found that the prosecution had established a complete chain of circumstances connecting the accused woman to her husband's murder.
The Bench also upheld her conviction under Section 201 IPC, as she had attempted to hide the offence by giving false information about the cause of her husband's death.
The trial court had earlier sentenced Laxmi to life imprisonment under Section 302 IPC and five years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 201 IPC.
Finding no reason to interfere with the conviction, the High Court dismissed her appeal and maintained the sentences imposed by the trial court.
However, the Court also considered the remission granted under G.O.Ms.No.54 dated June 1, 2026, and directed that her bail bonds be discharged.
EXPLANATORY TABLE OF LAWS AND SECTIONS
| Law / Section | What It Means | Application in This Case |
|---|---|---|
| Section 302 IPC | Punishment for murder, including life imprisonment or death. | Wife's conviction and life sentence upheld for strangling her husband. |
| Section 201 IPC | Punishes causing evidence to disappear or giving false information to screen an offender. | Wife falsely claimed her husband died from excessive drinking. Five-year rigorous imprisonment upheld. |
| Section 313 CrPC | Allows the accused to explain incriminating evidence during trial. | The accused denied the allegations but gave no satisfactory explanation for the homicidal death. |
| Section 164 CrPC | Provides for recording statements and confessions before a Magistrate. | The Court examined objections relating to the complainant's recorded statement. |
| Section 106, Indian Evidence Act, 1872 | Concerns facts especially within a person's knowledge. | The Court considered the wife's failure to explain the death after the prosecution established foundational facts. |
| G.O.Ms.No.54, dated June 1, 2026 | Telangana Government remission order. | The Court recognised remission granted to the appellant and discharged her bail bonds. |
CASE DETAILS
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Case Title | Agurla Laxmi @ Gouri v. State of Telangana |
| Court | Telangana High Court, Hyderabad |
| Case Number | Criminal Appeal No. 653 of 2019 |
| CNR Number | HBHC010365022019 |
| Judgment Date | October 9, 2026 |
| Reserved On | September 9, 2026 |
| Bench | Justice K. Lakshman and Justice K. Sujana |
| Judgment Authored By | Justice K. Sujana |
| Appellant | Agurla Laxmi @ Gouri |
| Respondent | State of Telangana |
| Appellant's Counsel | Advocate Md. Fasiuddin |
| State Counsel | Additional Public Prosecutor M. Ramachandra Reddy |
| Original Trial | Sessions Case No. 283 of 2016 |
| Trial Court | Principal Sessions Judge, Adilabad |
| Trial Judgment Date | November 26, 2018 |
| FIR | Crime No. 12 of 2016, Adilabad Rural Police Station |
| Final Decision | Criminal appeal dismissed; conviction and sentences confirmed; bail bonds discharged following remission |
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Husband Murdered by Wife: Telangana HC upheld life imprisonment for strangling her sleeping husband with a nylon rope.
- False Death Story Exposed: Wife claimed her husband died from excessive drinking, but medical evidence revealed strangulation.
- Men Are Domestic Violence Victims Too: The case highlights that husbands can also face fatal violence within marriage.
- No Eyewitness, Still Convicted: Medical findings, confession and circumstantial evidence established the wife's guilt.
- Justice Must Be Gender-Neutral: Domestic violence and murder must be judged by evidence, not by the gender of the victim or accused
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