7 years on, HC acquits man convicted of killing wife

The Bombay high court acquitted a 30-year-old man, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of killing his wife seven years ago. The court held that the prosecution had failed to prove the offence beyond reasonable doubt.

The court on January 24 cleared Balasaheb Navlikar of the murder charge and directed that the fine, if any, paid by him be refunded to him. The court also directed that Navlikar be released at once, if he is not required in any other case.

Kolhapur resident Navlikar’s wife Dipali was found in a pool of blood at their house in 2004. Her mother Usha told the police that she had seen her son-in-law leaving the crime scene. It was also alleged that the couple had a fight before the incident.

Based on Usha’s statement and the fact that Navilkar had an injury between the thumb and index fingers at the time of the complaint and there were blood stains on his clothes, the police arrested him. He got bail after some time.

“The strained relationship which would give rise to the appellant to commit the offence... has not been established,” the judges said.