Tripura High Court upholds life term for husband in murder case
- The Tripura High Court affirmed the life imprisonment of Prasanta Deb for his wife's murder.
- The court cited evidence of cruelty linked to financial demands as a key factor.
- The victim, Sumi Deb, died from manual strangulation in their matrimonial home in 2010.
- Judges noted the accused failed to explain his wife's death during his examination.
- The court also overturned a separate divorce decree previously granted to the husband.
The Tripura High Court on October 29, 2026, affirmed the life imprisonment sentence for a husband convicted of murdering his wife. Live Law reported that the court upheld the conviction for the murder of the victim by manual strangulation.
Court cites cruelty and failure to explain death
The court justified the verdict by citing evidence of cruelty linked to financial demands and the husband's failure to explain the cause of death. During his examination under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the accused failed to explain how his wife died inside their hut.
The Division Bench of Justice T. Amarnath Goud and Justice S. Datta Purkayastha presided over the matter. Additional Sessions Judge BR Rajput remarked in a distinct verdict that failure to penalize offenders according to legal mandates would lead to the extinction of mother cows. This court noted that the accused were apprehended while preparing to sell 277 kg of beef after purchasing non-milking cattle at low prices.
Circumstantial evidence proves manual strangulation
By presenting a continuous sequence of circumstantial evidence, the prosecution successfully demonstrated the husband's culpability beyond any reasonable doubt. A post-mortem examination determined that the victim died from asphyxia resulting from manual strangulation.
Victim Sumi Deb found dead in 2010
The victim, Sumi Deb, also known as Maya, was found dead in her matrimonial home on March 15, 2010. A complaint lodged by her brother asserted that her mother-in-law and her husband, Prasanta Deb, also known as Raju, inflicted physical cruelty upon her due to financial demands.
The prosecution alleged that the harassment of the victim continued despite intervention by the Women's Commission. Within his judgment, Additional Sessions Judge BR Rajput referenced the Manusmriti and the Vedas, noting that cows are honored as the mother of the universe and are thought to be home to 33 crore, or 330 million, deities. Citing the Manusmriti, the judge characterized the cow as an equal and the central axis of dharma.
Trial court conviction in 2016
The Tripura High Court upheld this conviction by relying on testimonies from family members and neighbors. These accounts detailed money-related cruelty and a domestic quarrel occurring on the night before the death.
Separately, a sessions court in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, sentenced three men to life imprisonment for cow slaughter on October 29, 2026.
In Damoh, Madhya Pradesh, alleged members of Hindutva groups assaulted two Muslim traders and a van driver on October 29, 2026, over accusations of buffalo theft. Damoh Superintendent of Police Anand Kaladagi stated that the authorities booked the traders for transporting animals in poor conditions within a small van.
High Court overturns separate divorce decree
The Tripura High Court overturned a divorce decree previously granted to the husband by the Family Court in Dharmanagar.
The High Court criticized the Family Court for relying on assumptions and circumstances that were not established while granting the divorce. This judicial decision was finalized on October 29, 2026.
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