THANE: The Thane sessions court has acquitted a 33-year-old man accused of murdering his wife in 2019, citing insufficient evidence to prove the prosecution’s case beyond reasonable doubt.
Principal district and sessions judge S B Agrawal ordered the release of Narendra Chilkamari, who was in custody since Dec 24, 2019, in connection with the death of his wife Anushka.
According to court documents, Narendra was arrested after his wife was found unresponsive at their Thane residence on Dec 22, 2019. Initially, the incident was treated as an accidental death, but after the post-mortem examination findings revealed multiple contusions and fractures, police filed a case of murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.
During the trial, the prosecution alleged that Narendra assaulted Anushka during a domestic dispute, inflicting severe injuries to her chest, ribs, and head through kicking and punching. The prosecution presented circumstantial evidence, including testimonies from neighbours and family members who described a history of marital discord between the couple. However, no eyewitnesses could confirm seeing Narendra assault his wife on that night.
The defence maintained that Narendra was at his parents’ home in Prabhadevi at the time of the incident, seeking medication for Anushka, who was suffering from jaundice. Upon returning home, he discovered her unconscious and immediately informed her family.
In his ruling, judge Agrawal highlighted that the prosecution failed to conclusively establish Narendra’s presence at the crime scene. The lack of direct eyewitness testimony regarding the alleged assault and discrepancies in witness statements further weakened the prosecution’s case. The initial police complaint by the victim’s brother showed no suspicion of foul play.
The court noted that while evidence of a troubled marriage existed, it alone was insufficient to prove murder charges. “Circumstantial evidence must form a complete chain leading to the only conclusion of guilt. In this case, several crucial links were missing,” the judge observed.