Wife Killed Sleeping Husband, Strangled Him With Pillow And Mobile Charger Cord: Jajpur Court Sentences Her To Life Imprisonment
Curated by NEWS DESK
Editorial DeskCan a family quarrel end with a wife killing her husband while he sleeps? A Jajpur court has sentenced a 38-year-old woman to life imprisonment after convicting her of murdering her husband inside their rented home.
ODISHA: An Additional District and Sessions Court in Jajpur, Odisha, has sentenced a 38-year-old woman to life imprisonment for murdering her 35-year-old husband, nearly five years after the incident. The court also imposed a fine of Rs. 1 lakh after finding sufficient evidence to convict her in the murder case.
According to the prosecution, the couple was living with their family in a rented house at Pragati Vihar Colony near Mangalpur Bazar in Jajpur district. The incident took place on the night of 20 July 2021 following a dispute between the husband and wife.
The prosecution alleged that the couple had quarrelled over a family dispute. The situation subsequently became serious and ultimately ended in the husband's death. The prosecution's case was that the wife strangled her husband while he was sleeping by using a pillow and a mobile charger cord.
The 35-year-old husband was therefore allegedly attacked at a time when he was asleep inside the house where he lived with his family. The case later resulted in criminal proceedings against the wife and two other persons who were also accused of involvement in the incident.
Following the husband's death, his brother approached Mangalpur Police Station on the next day and lodged a complaint regarding the incident. Based on the complaint and subsequent investigation, the police arrested the wife along with two other accused persons.
The matter eventually proceeded to trial before the Additional District and Sessions Court at Jajpur. During the proceedings, the prosecution placed its evidence before the court to establish the circumstances surrounding the husband's death and the alleged role of the accused.
After considering the evidence produced during the trial, the court found sufficient material to hold the wife guilty of murdering her husband. However, the evidence against the other two accused did not meet the required standard for conviction.
The court consequently acquitted the other two accused due to insufficient evidence. Their acquittal also underlines an important criminal-law principle: merely being accused in a serious criminal case cannot substitute for the requirement of sufficient evidence to establish guilt.
In the case of the wife, however, the court reached a different conclusion on the evidence and convicted her for her husband's murder. She was ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs. 1 lakh. The convicted woman had also contested the 2017 Zilla Parishad election from Zone-6 in Jajpur on a BJP ticket but lost.
EXPLANATORY TABLE OF LAWS AND SECTIONS
| Law / Section | What It Means | Application In This Case |
|---|---|---|
| Section 300, Indian Penal Code, 1860 – Murder | Section 300 explains when culpable homicide amounts to murder, subject to the exceptions provided under the section. | The death was treated as murder, leading to conviction for the offence punishable under Section 302 IPC. |
| Section 302, Indian Penal Code, 1860 – Punishment for Murder | Provides punishment for murder with death or imprisonment for life, along with a fine. | The court convicted the accused under Section 302 IPC and awarded life imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 1 lakh. |
| Section 354, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 – Judgment | Governs the contents and language of a criminal court judgment and requires reasons to be recorded for the sentence awarded. | The trial concluded with a judgment of conviction and the imposition of life imprisonment and a fine. |
| Section 428, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 – Set-Off | Allows the period of detention already undergone during investigation, inquiry or trial to be set off against the term of imprisonment, where legally applicable. | Relevant to computation of the sentence where the statutory requirements for set-off are satisfied. |
CASE DETAILS
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Case Title | Husband Murder Case |
| Court | Additional District and Sessions Court, Jajpur, Odisha |
| Convict | 38-year-old wife |
| Victim | 35-year-old husband |
| Other Accused | Two other accused persons |
| Result for Other Accused | Acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence |
| Incident Date | 20 July 2021 |
| Decision Reported | 11 September 2026 |
| Offence | Murder of husband |
| Conviction | Section 302, Indian Penal Code, 1860 |
| Sentence | Life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1 lakh |
| Result | Wife convicted of husband's murder |
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- A husband was killed inside his own home while sleeping, according to the prosecution case accepted by the court.
- Male victims of domestic violence exist too. Their suffering should not become invisible merely because the victim is a husband.
- The wife gets life imprisonment. The court convicted her of murdering her husband and imposed a Rs. 1 lakh fine.
- Evidence, not allegations, must decide guilt. The court acquitted two other accused because there was insufficient evidence against them.
- A man's life deserves equal value. Violence inside marriage does not become less serious when the victim is male.
NEWS DESK
Legal news and court developments curated by the Shonee Kapoor editorial desk.
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