Parties: JEMABEN VS THE STATE OF GUJARAT
Lawyers: S. C. BIRLA, SWATI GHILDIYAL
Judges: MR. JUSTICE PRASHANT KUMAR MISHRA, MR. JUSTICE VIPUL M. PANCHOLI
Judgment By: MR. JUSTICE PRASHANT KUMAR MISHRA
Case Number: 15125/2017
Quick Summary: Jemaben was found guilty of killing Leelaben in Gujarat. The Supreme Court agreed with this decision and rejected Jemaben's appeal against the High Court's judgment.
On July 21, 2016, the High Court of Gujarat in Ahmedabad changed the earlier decision that found Jemaben not guilty. The High Court decided Jemaben was responsible for murder, giving her a life sentence and a fine of ₹10,000. This change happened because the State of Gujarat didn't agree with the trial court's earlier decision and asked for a review.
The sad event happened during the night of November 29-30, 2004, in a small house where Leelaben and her son Ganesh were sleeping. Jemaben, along with another person named Bherabhai Revaji Majirana, allegedly planned to kill them. Jemaben reportedly poured kerosene on Leelaben and set her on fire, causing severe burns. Leelaben passed away on December 4, 2004, while Ganesh had minor burns.
Leelaben's sister, Geetaben, filed a complaint on December 5, 2004. The investigation led to charges of murder. However, the trial court initially found Jemaben not guilty due to differences in Leelaben's statements before she died.
The State of Gujarat challenged the trial court's decision, and the High Court believed the statements Leelaben made before she died, especially the one recorded by Dr. Shivrambhai Nagarbhai Patel. Even with some differences in the statements, the High Court trusted the medical evidence and the situation, and changed the trial court's decision.
On October 29, 2025, the Supreme Court, with Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi, rejected Jemaben's appeal. The court focused on the trustworthiness of the first statement Leelaben made before she died and other evidence, like the smell of kerosene and burn injuries.
"My aunt-in-law, Jemaben, poured kerosene on me and set me on fire," Leelaben reportedly told Dr. Patel.
The Supreme Court agreed with the High Court's decision, highlighting that the evidence clearly showed Jemaben's guilt. The appeal was rejected, confirming the life sentence for Jemaben.
