Summary: Deepak Madhu Waghmare was first found guilty of murdering his wife in Raigad, Maharashtra. However, when he appealed, the Bombay High Court canceled the conviction because there wasn't enough evidence and there were mistakes in the legal process.
On January 15, 2019, Deepak Madhu Waghmare was found guilty by the judge in Raigad for murdering his wife. He was sentenced to life in prison and had to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000. The decision was based on indirect evidence and a confession that Waghmare later said was forced.
Waghmare's appeal, led by Lawyer Mr. Yashodeep Deshmukh, argued that there wasn't enough proof. The appeal pointed out missing pieces in the indirect evidence and questioned whether Waghmare's confession was given freely.
The prosecution claimed that on August 15, 2017, Waghmare killed his wife with a sickle at their home in Sangada village. They said he was motivated by jealousy. A neighbor, Govind Sonu Chavan, informed the police, leading to Waghmare's arrest the next day.
The police found the weapon and clothes at the crime scene. However, there were inconsistencies in how the evidence was collected and handled. The forensic report did not find any blood on the sickle, which made its use in the crime questionable.
The prosecution brought in six witnesses, but important testimonies were weak. For example, the labor contractor, Mr. Guddu Rajkumar Gaund, admitted he never saw any fights or bad behavior involving Waghmare's wife.
The confession was a major issue. Waghmare claimed he was forced to confess while he was in custody. His confession was recorded under a specific section of the law, but the court found it unreliable because of claims that he was forced and mistakes in how it was handled.
The Bombay High Court, with Judges Manish Pitale and Manjusha Deshpande, found that the prosecution did not provide a complete set of evidence. The failure to prove a motive and the mishandling of Waghmare's confession were key reasons for canceling the conviction.
On January 19, 2026, the High Court canceled the conviction and ordered Waghmare's release, stating there was not enough evidence and there were mistakes in the legal process. The court stressed the importance of a fair trial and following legal rules.
"The prosecution has failed to establish the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt," the judgment stated, emphasizing the need for a complete and reliable set of evidence in cases based on indirect evidence.
