BENGALURU<\/em>:<\/strong> Kalpana and her boyfriend, Javed Basha, were sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering her husband, Satish<\/strong>, a 38-year-old cab driver. The crime was exposed through call records, mobile location data, post-mortem findings, and circumstantial evidence<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On 22 May 2017<\/strong>, Kalpana told neighbours that Satish had collapsed after attempting suicide. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Initially, investigators considered the possibility of suicide or an alcohol-related death. However, the post-mortem found sedative traces in Satish\u2019s body and marks around his neck<\/strong>, raising suspicion that he had been killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The investigation changed after Satish\u2019s relative informed police that Kalpana had earlier disappeared with the couple\u2019s children and had been found staying with Javed. According to the prosecution, Kalpana and Javed were involved in an extramarital relationship<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Investigators examined the Call Detail Records of Kalpana and Javed<\/strong>. The two had exchanged several calls before Satish\u2019s death, but there was no communication between them from approximately 12.29 am to 2.36 am<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doctors estimated that Satish had died at around 1 am<\/strong>. Mobile-location records also placed Kalpana and Javed\u2019s phones at the same location during that period.The prosecution argued that they were not calling each other because Javed was allegedly present inside Kalpana\u2019s house when Satish was killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the prosecution, Javed purchased Alprazolam tablets<\/strong> and gave them to Kalpana.Kalpana allegedly mixed the powdered tablets into pumpkin curry and served it to Satish. After he fell asleep, she reportedly made the children sleep in another room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Javed then allegedly entered the house at around 12.30 am<\/strong>. The prosecution said Kalpana and Javed stuffed cloth into Satish\u2019s mouth and strangled him while he was sedated. Javed allegedly struck him with a stone when he resisted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The husband returned home and he was allegedly drugged through food served by his wife and attacked while sleeping inside his own home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police cited around 40 witnesses<\/strong>, but several important witnesses, including the couple\u2019s daughter, relatives and neighbours, turned hostile during the trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite this, the prosecution relied heavily on medical evidence, electronic records, mobile-location data and other circumstances<\/strong> surrounding Satish\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Court clarified that the evidence of a hostile witness is not automatically erased. Reliable portions can still be considered when supported by independent evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Judge Jayaprakash<\/strong> A observed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe evidence of such witnesses cannot be treated as washed off the records.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Court found that the medical, electronic and circumstantial evidence formed a complete chain pointing towards Kalpana and Javed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On 4 July 2026<\/strong>, the 66th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court, Bengaluru<\/strong>, convicted Kalpana and Javed under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code<\/em><\/strong> and sentenced both to life imprisonment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They were, however, acquitted of charges under Sections 201 and 204 IPC<\/em><\/strong>, relating to disappearance or destruction of evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the investigation, Kalpana allegedly complained that Satish consumed alcohol.But an alleged drinking habit cannot reduce a husband\u2019s right to life<\/strong>. A troubled marriage, personal weakness or addiction cannot justify drugging and killing a man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Court found Kalpana and Javed guilty of Satish\u2019s murder<\/strong> and sentenced them to life imprisonment.It also recommended compensation for the couple\u2019s two children through the District Legal Services Authority, Bengaluru Urban<\/strong>. The children lost their father to the crime and their mother to imprisonment\u2014leaving them to suffer the consequences of a conspiracy they had no part in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nEXPLANATORY TABLE OF LAWS AND SECTIONS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
LAW \/ SECTION<\/strong><\/td> LEGAL MEANING<\/strong><\/td> APPLICATION IN THIS CASE<\/strong><\/td> FINAL RESULT<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead> Section 302 IPC<\/strong><\/td> Prescribed punishment for murder, including death or imprisonment for life and fine.<\/td> Kalpana and Javed were prosecuted for intentionally killing Satish.<\/td> Both were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.<\/td><\/tr> Section 201 IPC<\/strong><\/td> Punishes causing disappearance of evidence or giving false information to screen an offender.<\/td> The prosecution alleged an effort to disguise the death and suppress the true circumstances.<\/td> Both accused were acquitted of this charge.<\/td><\/tr> Section 204 IPC<\/strong><\/td> Punishes destruction or concealment of documents or electronic records to prevent their production as evidence.<\/td> Applied in relation to the alleged concealment or destruction of evidentiary material.<\/td> Both accused were acquitted of this charge.<\/td><\/tr> Section 25, Indian Evidence Act<\/a><\/strong><\/td> A confession made to a police officer ordinarily cannot be proved against an accused.<\/td> Kalpana\u2019s alleged police confession could not, by itself, legally establish guilt.<\/td> Conviction required independent admissible evidence.<\/td><\/tr> Section 26, Indian Evidence Act<\/strong><\/td> Restricts proof of a confession made while an accused is in police custody unless made before a Magistrate.<\/td> Relevant to statements allegedly made during custodial interrogation.<\/td> Police statements required legal scrutiny before use.<\/td><\/tr> Section 27, Indian Evidence Act<\/strong><\/td> Permits proof of the limited portion of information that distinctly leads to discovery of a fact.<\/td> Any admissible discovery resulting from information supplied by the accused could be proved to that limited extent.<\/td> Only the legally admissible discovery portion could be considered.<\/td><\/tr> Section 65B, Indian Evidence Act<\/strong><\/td> Governed admissibility of electronic records produced through computer devices, subject to statutory requirements.<\/td> Relevant to CDRs, electronic-location material and associated records relied upon during trial.<\/td> Electronic material had to satisfy evidentiary requirements before reliance.<\/td><\/tr> Circumstantial Evidence Principle<\/strong><\/td> Each proved circumstance must form a complete chain inconsistent with innocence.<\/td> The prosecution relied on motive, calls, location, medical findings and conduct rather than a direct eyewitness.<\/td> Court held that the chain was complete.<\/td><\/tr> Hostile Witness Principle<\/strong><\/td> A hostile witness\u2019s entire evidence is not automatically erased. Reliable portions may be accepted if corroborated.<\/td> The daughter, relatives and neighbours turned hostile.<\/td> Court relied upon legally credible portions supported by other evidence.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n CASE DETAILS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
PARTICULAR<\/strong><\/td> DETAILS<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead> Case<\/strong><\/td> State of Karnataka v. Kalpana and Javed<\/td><\/tr> Court<\/strong><\/td> Additional City Civil and Sessions Court, Bengaluru<\/td><\/tr> Presiding Judge<\/strong><\/td> Judge Jayaprakash<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Incident Date<\/strong><\/td> 22 May 2017<\/td><\/tr> Conviction Date<\/strong><\/td> 4 July 2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n KEY TAKEAWAYS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Kalpana first appeared before neighbours and police as a grieving wife. Medical findings and a relative\u2019s suspicion forced investigators to examine whether Satish had actually been murdered.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Kalpana and Javed allegedly communicated repeatedly before the crime. Their communication stopped during the precise period in which Satish died, while their phones were found at the same location.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
The prosecution’s case was that Alprazolam powder was mixed into pumpkin curry before Satish was attacked while sleeping.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
The daughter, relatives and neighbours turned hostile, but electronic records, medical material and the remaining circumstances continued to support the prosecution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Attempts to shift attention towards Satish\u2019s alleged alcoholism could not erase the central fact: the Court found that his wife and her boyfriend had murdered him.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nThis Could Change Your Case-Get FREE Legal Advice-Click Here!<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n