Chandu Sarode was sentenced to life in prison for killing his wife, Rupali, with an axe. The court confirmed his conviction, rejecting his appeal that claimed he was innocent based on indirect evidence.
On June 3, 2016, Chandu Sarode allegedly killed his wife, Rupali, in their home. A neighbor, Anil Chafle, informed the village council member, Gunwant Mhaske, about the incident. When Mhaske arrived, he found Rupali in a pool of blood with an axe nearby. The police were notified, and a crime report was filed.
"He found Rupali lying in a pool of blood with an axe nearby," said Mhaske.
The investigation revealed that Chandu was found unconscious in a field after consuming poison, which suggested he tried to take his own life. The police collected evidence, including blood-stained clothes and an axe. Witnesses spoke about Chandu's violent behavior and the couple's troubled relationship.
The prosecution presented 17 witnesses, including neighbors and family members, who talked about the couple's frequent fights. Medical evidence showed multiple wounds on Rupali, which matched an axe attack. Chandu's defense argued there was no direct evidence and questioned the trustworthiness of the witnesses.
"The death was caused by shock and severe bleeding due to chop wounds," stated Dr. Deji Talekar, the medical officer.
The court found the indirect evidence strong enough for conviction. It noted that Chandu did not explain the events leading to Rupali's death, which happened in their home where they lived alone.
Chandu appealed the conviction, arguing that the evidence was indirect and not enough. However, the judges, Urmila Joshi-Phalke and Nandesh S. Deshpande, upheld the life sentence, citing the strong indirect evidence and lack of an alternative explanation from Chandu.
"The circumstances clearly point to the guilt of the accused," the judgment stated.
The court changed the sentence to life in prison without specifying the rest of his life, following legal standards. Chandu Sarode remains convicted of murder, and his appeal was dismissed.
