A 57-year-old man from Kolhapur district has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his wife in 2017, driven by suspicion over her character. Additional Sessions Judge R V Adone pronounced the verdict on Wednesday, holding Pralhad Ramchandra Awale guilty under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.
Details of the Crime
Awale, a construction worker residing in Annabhau Sathe Nagar of Kasaba Sangaon under Kagal tehsil, attacked his wife Varsha on September 11, 2017. He struck her head with a stone grinder, causing severe injury, and then slit her throat with a sickle. The accused has been in judicial custody since the incident.
Role of Daughters as Witnesses
The couple's daughters were the prime witnesses in the case. Their testimony proved crucial in securing the conviction. District Government Prosecutor Vivek Shukl stated, “The statements of the two daughters against their father turned out to be important for the court to hold him guilty of brutal murder. Both daughters tried to stop their father from slitting their mother’s throat.”
Court's Sentencing Decision
During the hearing, Awale pleaded for a minimum sentence and fine, arguing that he had been under arrest for eight years and that his elderly parents depended on him. However, the court rejected the plea for leniency. The order stated, “Considering the age, nature of offence and injuries suffered, it is not a rarest of rare case to impose death penalty. Imposition of life imprisonment on the accused is adequate and proper punishment.”
In addition to life imprisonment, the court imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six months of simple imprisonment.
