Teacher in Madhya Pradesh found guilty and sentenced for the lethal killing of spouse by court's verdict.
Madhya Pradesh High Court Upholds Conviction of Chemistry Teacher for Husband's Murder
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has upheld the conviction and life imprisonment sentence of Mamta Pathak, a former chemistry lecturer, for the murder of her husband, Dr. Neeraj Pathak, in 2022.
The judges, Justices Vivek Agarwal and Devnarayan Mishra, dismissed Mamta Pathak's appeal and the scientific defense she presented, which contested the post-mortem report and the cause of death. The court found the chain of circumstantial evidence complete and Mamta Pathak's guilt established beyond all reasonable doubt.
Dr. Neeraj Pathak, the Chief Medical Officer at a district hospital, died due to electrocution causing cardio-respiratory failure. Initially, Mamta Pathak reported her husband's death as accidental. However, an autopsy revealed otherwise, leading to murder charges under Section 302 IPC.
The court considered the evidence of Dhaniram Ahirwar (PW.2) in deducing the motive for the murder. Frequent quarrels related to suspected infidelity were noted, and witness testimony contradicted Mamta Pathak's claim of a cordial relationship. The court also pointed out that a photograph showing Mamta Pathak with Dr Neeraj and their children is not of the recent past.
Mamta Pathak's allegation that her husband's relatives falsely implicated her to grab his property was not accepted by the court. The court noted that her sons are Class-I heirs, making such an accusation unlikely.
The government advocate, Manas Verma, represented the State in the case. Mamta Pathak appeared in person before the High Court to argue her appeal against the conviction.
The court ruled that Mamta Pathak tortured her husband by giving him an antipsychotic drug followed by an electric shock. The court rejected her claim that Dr Neeraj's death was caused by cardio-vascular disease.
The court's decision was based on the evidence presented in the case, which proved Mamta Pathak's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The court also said that a woman can be a "doting mother" but also a "suspecting wife" at the same time.
The temporary suspension granted to Mamta Pathak by a Coordinate Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has been cancelled. The Division Bench of Justices Vivek Agarwal and Devnararayan Mishra found Mamta Pathak guilty.
Mamta Pathak and Dr Neeraj Pathak were married and had children together. Mamta Pathak was a Chemistry lecturer at a government college, and her husband was the Chief Medical Officer at a district hospital.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court's ruling brings closure to a tragic case and sends a clear message that such crimes will not be tolerated.
The verdict by the Madhya Pradesh High Court in the general-news story of Mamta Pathak's murder conviction signifies a strong stance against crime-and-justice, as it highlights that even high-profile individuals, such as chemistry teachers and medical officers, will not escape the law's grasp if found guilty. The ruling, based on an extensive examination of evidence, not only delivers justice for Dr. Neeraj Pathak but also sends a clear message that politics or familial ties will not shield wrongdoers from the consequences of their actions.
