2 brothers-in-law, 3 others get life for 'honour' killing in Mumbai

MUMBAI: In a case of honour killing, a sessions court on Monday convicted and sentenced five men, including two brothers-in-law, to life imprisonment for kidnapping and murdering the new partner of their widowed sister-in-law's (elder brother's wife) in 2012. Among those found guilty by judge LS Chavan were the woman's brothers-in-law Jayesh Sing (38) and Ajay Sing (43) from Dahisar and their friends Vishal Solanki (31), Jignesh Nandvan (35) and Rajkumar Yadav (33). The accused believed that the woman, a mother of three, had defamed the family by having a relationship with the new partner, Mahesh Shukla, months after their brother's death.
Special public prosecutor Keshav Yadav Salunke examined 21 witnesses, including the woman. Salunke submitted that the prosecution's case was mainly based on four eyewitnesses. He added that the victim was last seen alive with the accused.
In her police statement, the woman had said that her brothers-in-law were harassing her to leave the house she lived in. She said they repeatedly visited her and once saw the victim in the house. She said she was in a relationship with him. The woman said they suspected they were in a relationship and threatened her to vacate the house. Her husband died in May 2012.
The woman said that on December 17, 2012, about 1 am, the victim and she were chatting. Someone knocked and when she opened the door, and saw her brothers-in-law with Vishal and Rajkumar. She said her brother-in-law Ajay had a "koyta" and Jayesh had a hockey stick. She said the accused abused and attacked her with the "koyta" on the leg. She said Jayesh kicked her and they dragged Mahesh down the stairs. The woman saw the accused assaulting Mahesh with the hockey stick and despite his screams for help, out of fear, nobody came to help. Frightened, she returned home. She said she tried to call the victim, but his phone was switched off.
The woman lodged a complaint at Dahisar police station. Initially, fearing for her reputation, she complained only of the attack on herself. She added that later she got to know that Mahesh's family had lodged a missing complaint after he did not return home. The woman said that she came to know that all the accused had kidnapped the victim in an SUV. The woman said that a few days later she was informed that he was murdered.