A district court in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar has sentenced a man to death for the brutal murder of his wife and two minor sons in 2021, describing the crime as one of the 'rarest of rare' cases. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 3 lakh on the convict.
Verdict Delivered
District and Sessions Judge Sanjeev Kumar Tyagi delivered the verdict on Friday in the sensational triple murder case that had shocked the Turkpatti area nearly five years ago. The convict, Rajesh Gupta, was found guilty of slitting the throats of his wife Nikki Gupta (30) and their two sons, Shivam (7) and Ayush (3), while they were asleep on the night of September 6, 2021.
Motive and Investigation
According to the prosecution, Rajesh suspected his wife of having an illicit relationship and frequently quarrelled with her over the issue. The suspicion eventually culminated in the gruesome killings. The case was registered on the complaint of Amar Gupta, brother of the deceased woman, who alleged that Rajesh used a knife, sickle, and a sharp-edged agricultural tool to commit the murders. After the crime, Rajesh walked into Turkpatti police station and informed police about the killings before surrendering.
During the investigation, evidence of prolonged marital discord was found. The police chargesheet stated that Rajesh frequently questioned his wife's character and suspected her fidelity. Statements of witnesses and other evidence supported the prosecution's case.
Trial and Sentencing
The trial court heard testimony from 11 prosecution witnesses. During final arguments, the prosecution urged the court to treat the matter as a 'rarest of rare' case and award the maximum punishment, citing the brutal killing of a woman and two innocent children. After examining the evidence, Judge Tyagi held Rajesh guilty of committing an exceptionally heinous crime, observing that the murder of a wife and two helpless minor children in such a brutal manner fell within the category of 'rarest of rare' offences. The court sentenced him to death and imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 3 lakh.
Reaction
Following the verdict, the case once again became a topic of discussion in Kishundas Patti village, where residents recalled the horrific incident that had stunned the community in 2021. Villagers and relatives of the victims welcomed the court's decision, saying justice had finally been delivered to Nikki and her two young sons.
