'Protector Turns Predator': MP Court Awards Death Penalty To Man For Killing Adoptive Mother; Cites Ramcharitmanas, Quran On Filial Duty

The District and Sessions Court, Sheopur, on Wednesday (July 23), awarded capital punishment to a man for the brutal murder of his mother, driven by financial greed. While pronouncing the sentence, the court underscored the moral and ethical sanctity of the parent-child relationship by citing verses from the Ramcharitmanas, the Guru Granth Sahib, the Quran and the Bible.The court observed that all major scriptures universally uphold the values of respect, care and obedience to parents, principles which the adopted son had gravely violated.Referring to the principles established in Machhi Singh vs. State of Punjab 1983, the court held that the case fell within the ambit of the 'rarest of rare' category, warranting capital punishment under Section 302 of the IPC. Before arriving at the sentence, the Court underscored the chilling nature of the crime and the cold-blooded intent with which it was committed. It was observed that the manner in which the son executed the murder had left no scope for leniency. The Court remarked thus:"...आरोपी द्वारा अपनी माता उषाबाई को जीने से धक्का देकर नीचे गिराया गया, फिर सरिये से उसके सिर में एक से अधिक बार वार किया गया, साडी से गला घोंटकर बाथरूम में शव को ईंट सीमेन्ट से चुनकर चबूतरा बना दिया और साक्ष्य को विलोपित किया। आरोपी द्वारा यह जानते हुए कि वह अपनी माता का नॉमिनी है और माता की मृत्यु के पश्चात् उसे समस्त राशि मिलना है। जेवर और रूपये प्राप्त करने के लिए बडे ही निर्मम तरीके से अपनी माता को मारकर हत्या की है। ऐसी स्थिति में आरोपी किसी भी दया का पात्र नहीं है। अपराध एक नृशंस प्रकृति का है।" [Translation : The accused pushed his mother down the stairs, then struck her on the head multiple times with an iron rod. He strangled her with a saree, concealed the body in the bathroom by encasing it with bricks and cement to form a platform, and attempted to destroy the evidence. The accused was fully aware that he was the nominee to his mother's accounts and that he would receive all the funds after her death. In order to obtain jewellery and cash, he brutally murdered his mother. In such a situation, the accused doesnt deserve any mercy. The crime is of a heinous and barbaric nature]Special Judge Liladhar Solanki noted that, "When the person who is supposed to be the supporter and protector of aged parents becomes their predator, it shakes the conscious of society". The Court remarked in Hindi: "जिस पर माता पिता की रक्षा का दायित्व होता है, जो माता पिता के बुढापे का सहारा होता है वही यदि रक्षक ही भक्षक बन जावे तो फिर माता पिता उस संतान का लालन-पालन क्यों करेंगे। यदि बागड ही खेत खाने लग जाये तो फिर किसान किस पर विश्वास करेगा। आरोपी के विरूद्ध नरम रूख अपनाया गया तो कोई भी निःसंतान माता पिता किसी भी अनाथ बालक को गोद नहीं लेगे और समाज में काफी विपरीत प्रभाव होगा।" [Translation : The one who bears the responsibility of protecting the parents, who is supposed to be their support in old age, if that protector himself turns into a predator, then why would parents raise such a child? If the fence itself starts eating the crop, then whom will the farmer trust? If a lenient approach is taken towards the accused, no childless parents would dare adopt an orphan, and it would have a seriously adverse impact on society.]The facts in briefAccused Deepak was adopted from an orphanage in Gwalior at the age of one and raised by Usha Devi (deceased) and her husband with care and affection. He was provided with a good education and was made a nominee in his father's fixed deposits and all his mother's bank accounts. In 2021, Deepak's father, who was a guard in the forest department, passed away. Being a nominee, Deepak received INR 16.85 Lakhs, out of which he lost 14 Lakhs in the stock market and spent the remaining 2.85 Lakhs. Facing financial difficulties, he began demanding money from his mother, who had a total of around INR 32 Lakhs in her accounts. However, she repeatedly refused to give her any money. Testimonies from the neighbours confirmed that the mother and son frequently quarrelled over monetary demands. Several witnesses deposed that the accused had, on multiple occasions, demanded money from his mother and threatened her. According to the prosecution, on May 6 2024, between 10:30-11 AM, Usha Devi was going to water the tulsi plant after her bath when she encountered her son on the staircase. As she reached the midway point, the son pushed her, causing her to fall and sustain injuries to her head. Seeing that she was still alive, her son struck her multiple times on the forehead with an iron rod. He then strangled her using her saree, wrapped her body in it and buried her under cement and bricks in the bathroom located beneath the staircase. Two days later, on May 8, 2024, he went to the police station to file a report regarding her mother, alleging that she had disappeared while he had gone to the hospital. However, discrepancies in his statements aroused suspicion and upon sustained interrogation, he confessed to the crime. Trial Court's judgmentUpon consideration of the evidence and ...

'Protector Turns Predator': MP Court Awards Death Penalty To Man For Killing Adoptive Mother; Cites Ramcharitmanas, Quran On Filial Duty

Jayanti Pahwa

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