MP High Court Upholds Life Sentence in Gruesome Wife Murder Case
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has firmly rejected a convicted man's argument that he never intended to kill his wife because both were drunk during a violent altercation. A division bench delivered this decisive ruling, upholding the life sentence originally imposed by a trial court in Umaria district.
Court Dismisses Drunkenness as an Excuse for Murder
Shankar Baiga, the convicted individual, appealed his life sentence for murdering his wife, Sukhbanti. He claimed that drinking was a common practice in his community. According to his plea, both he and his wife consumed alcohol together on January 14, 2019. A minor quarrel escalated, and in a sudden burst of anger, he struck her with a rod.
Baiga insisted he had no intention to kill her. He argued that his intoxicated state impaired his judgment. He also stated that his wife, who was similarly drunk, fell down and later died from head injuries. However, the High Court bench, comprising Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice Ratnesh Chandra Singh Bisen, found this defense entirely unconvincing.
Evidence Reveals a Brutal and Intentional Attack
The court meticulously examined the case details. Records indicated that Baiga hit his wife not just once, but seven times with the rod. During this brutal assault, his own mother attempted to intervene. Shockingly, he scared her away and continued the beating.
The bench emphasized that striking someone seven times clearly demonstrates an intent to kill. Justice Agarwal and Justice Bisen stated that his actions could have had no other purpose. They pointed out that the post-mortem report made no mention of the deceased being under the influence of alcohol, contradicting a key part of Baiga's appeal.
Furthermore, the medical examination revealed marks of grievous injuries on Sukhbanti's body. This evidence solidified the court's conclusion about the violent nature of the crime.
Police Action and Final Judgment
Police registered a murder case against Shankar Baiga just two days after his wife's tragic death. The trial court in Umaria district subsequently found him guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
In its final order, the High Court dismissed Baiga's appeal in strong terms. The bench upheld the sessions court's original decision, affirming the life sentence. This ruling sends a clear message that intoxication cannot serve as a valid defense for acts of extreme violence and murder.
