New Delhi: A 26-year-old man, who tried to kill his wife by firing at her, has been sentenced to seven years in jail by a Delhi court which noted that the husband was under "social and moral obligation" to look after his wife but turned out to be her "culprit".
Additional Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna handed down jail term to Delhi resident Madan Lal, saying he has attempted to murder his own wife despite the fact that "he married her against the wishes of her parents".
"The convict (Lal) has been held guilty for the offence of attempt to murder and for carrying and using illegal weapons under Arms Act. Lal attempted to murder his own wife despite the fact that he married her against the wishes of her parents.
"The convict being the husband was under social and moral obligation to look after his wife and instead he turned out to be her culprit and had done his best to endanger her life by firing at her with a country-made pistol," the court said.
Imposing a fine of Rs 25,000 on the accused Lal, the judge said "rigorous imprisonment" should be given to him as "a strong message has to be sent to the society against such culprits".
The prosecution case is that Lal in August 2011, had attempted to kill his wife Sangeeta by firing at her with a country-made pistol, which resulted in serious injuries to her.
Later on, she was rushed to a nearby hospital in North Delhi, where she stayed there for three months, it said.
Defending Lal, his counsel had told the court that the
marriage of accused with Sangeeta had been a love marriage and their relations were cordial and there was no motive of the accused to assault his wife.
The counsel had said that Lal has been harassed and the police case has been planted upon him.
Brushing aside the counsel`s submissions, the judge said, "The circumstantial evidence as corroborated with the medical and scientific reports and depositions of witnesses, I am convinced that Lal has assaulted his wife with a view to kill her by means of illegal weapon and the recovery of weapon... are proved against him".
Sending Lal to jail, the court noted that the convict has various criminal involvements to his credit.
"There is no reason that convict should be dealt with any kind of leniency and even, at the young age of 26 years, he is involved in serious cases like extortion, robbery and criminal intimidation.
"He has already been declared BC (bad character) of the area. I find no signs of reformation in the convict," the judge said.
PTI
