Summary: Shrikant Kamal Chavan, aged 29, from Karnataka, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife Sangita. The incident occurred in Pune in March 2019. The Bombay High Court upheld the decision, dismissing Chavan's appeal.
On April 1, 2019, a tragic event unfolded in Pune. Tarabai Rathod, the person who reported the crime, said that her daughter Sangita was found dead with serious injuries. The family lived in temporary huts in Hadapsar, Pune. Sangita's husband, Shrikant Kamal Chavan, was blamed for the crime.
"Tarabai Rathod saw Shrikant running away and found Sangita lying on her stomach...with blood coming from below her left ear."
Shrikant was arrested on April 4, 2019, in Vijapur, Karnataka. A formal charge was made on June 27, 2019, leading to a trial in Pune. The court found Shrikant guilty of murder.
"Shrikant was arrested on 04.04.2019 from Vijapur, Karnataka."
The trial included statements from several witnesses, including Tarabai Rathod and medical experts. Dr. Shishir Sunil Vidhate conducted the examination after death, confirming the cause of death was a deep cut to the neck.
"Dr. Shishir explained that on examination he found a chop injury...sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death."
Shrikant's side argued that he was wrongly accused and not there when it happened. The appeal mentioned issues about the delay in reporting the crime and the lack of independent witnesses. However, the court did not find these arguments convincing.
"Shrikant has merely stated...that he was at work."
The Bombay High Court, with Judges Manish Pitale and Shreeram V. Shirsat in charge, upheld the decision on March 7, 2026. The court found the evidence presented by the prosecution to be consistent and believable.
"The prosecution has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and the resultant conviction is proper."
The court confirmed that Shrikant Chavan is guilty of killing his wife, Sangita, and maintained his life imprisonment sentence.
