Man ends life to teach wife a lesson; HC acquits her, kin

Man ends life to teach wife a lesson; HC acquits her, kin

MUMBAI: A Nashik resident, who spent nearly seven years in jail after she was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing her husband, was recently acquitted by the Bombay high court, which ruled that it was a case of suicide.

Vilas Pawar committed suicide to teach his wife Usha, who had filed a case of maintenance against him, a lesson, said the court.

Seven of Usha's relatives, including her elderly parents and three brothers, who were also sentenced to life imprisonment in the case were acquitted as well.

Three dying declarations of Vilas, accusing Usha of forcibly emptying a bottle of poison into his mouth, were recorded. But the court took into account Vilas' conduct. "It is material to note the conduct of the deceased. Vilas was refusing to take treatment," observed a division bench of Vijaya Kapse-Tahilramani and Justice Pramod Kode. "If Vilas had been forcibly administered poison, he would want to save his life and... immediately submit to treatment. Vilas was refusing to get treated, which shows that he wanted the case to get serious in order to cause harassment to the appellants... Vilas himself consumed poison as he wanted to teach a lesson to (his wife and in-laws)." The court also referred to the panchnama which revealed that "Vilas consumed poison from a bottle and he told (his wife and in-laws) that he would take every one along with him".

Usha had filed a maintenance case against Vilas after their relationship soured. Following the court hearing in a Nashik court on January 11, 2007, Vilas landed at Usha's parents' home with a bottle of poison. Vilas claimed that his in-laws held his hands and legs and Usha emptied the contents of a poison bottle in his mouth. Usha and her relatives said that it was Vilas who himself consumed poison from the bottle.

The trial court had held Usha and her relatives guilty of murder and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

The court also referred to the panchnama which revealed that "Vilas consumed poison from a bottle and he told (his wife and in-laws) that he would take every one along with him".  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Man-ends-life-to-teach-wife-a-lesson-HC-acquits-her-kin/articleshow/20708600.cms