Mumbai: A sessions court sentenced a 27-year-old Cuffe Parade resident, Vitthal Rathod, to life imprisonment for murdering his wife, Renuka Rathod, by strangulation. The case was brought to light by Renuka’s mother, who filed a complaint against Rathod after noticing suspicious marks on her daughter’s neck.
According to the prosecution, Rathod was excessively possessive and controlling of Renuka, restricting her movements and interactions. Her mother stated that Renuka often appeared to want to share something but was unable to do so due to the constant presence of her mother-in-law.
Details On The Murder
The incident took place on the night of February 21, 2021. Around 11 pm, Renuka’s in-laws informed her mother that she was feeling unwell and dizzy. Later, Rathod, allegedly intoxicated at the time, told the family that Renuka had fallen unconscious and needed to be taken to a hospital. However, his version of events soon changed, he later claimed that she had died by suicide by strangulating herself.
Suspicious of the inconsistent accounts and after observing reddish marks on her daughter’s neck, Renuka’s mother filed a complaint at the Cuffe Parade Police Station.
During the trial, Additional Public Prosecutor Geeta Sharma relied on testimony from Renuka’s relatives, who highlighted Rathod’s suspicious and restrictive behaviour toward his wife. The prosecution argued that the medical evidence clearly pointed to manual strangulation.
Court Found Defense’s Argument Unconvincing
Rathod’s defense, on the other hand, maintained that Renuka had died by suicide and that he had done everything possible to save her, including taking her to a hospital. However, the court found this argument unconvincing.
“The defense has failed to establish the probability of suicidal hanging,” the court observed, according to a Hindustan Times report. “The prosecution has proven that the accused caused Renuka’s death through manual strangulation or throttling. This act of force clearly indicates an intention to kill.”
The court further ruled that Renuka’s death was homicidal and that Rathod had committed murder. As a result, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
