Hyderabad, Aug 17 A court on Monday sentenced a 45-year-old man to life imprisonment for killing his wife, a Congolese national, in 2016.
The X Additional District and Sessions Judge, Rajendra Nagar, convicted the accused Rupesh Kumar M, a private employee, and sentenced him to undergo life imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs 25,000.
On the intervening night of July 3-4, 2016, following a heated quarrel, the accused allegedly throttled his wife to death at their residence. Thereafter, in an attempt to destroy the evidence and screen himself from legal action, he dismembered the body using an axe and knives, packed the body parts in bags and transported them in his car to an isolated location near Madanapally village.
He then allegedly poured petrol over the body parts and set them on fire, a release from Future City Police Commissionerate said.
On July 4, 2016, villagers of Madanapally noticed flames and smoke emanating from an isolated area. On reaching the spot, they found a car stuck in the mud. The accused, Rupesh Kumar M, was found near the vehicle along with his minor daughter.
At a short distance from the vehicle, villagers noticed dismembered human body parts burning in flames and immediately informed the police. During inquiry, the accused disclosed that the deceased was his wife, a Congolese national.
During the investigation, the police collected and examined material objects, CCTV footage and forensic evidence, and conducted DNA examination to establish the identity of the deceased and connect the accused with the offence. The investigation established the involvement of the accused, and a charge sheet was filed against him for the offences punishable under Sections 302 and 201 IPC.
Investigation revealed that the accused had married her in 2008 and they had a daughter. After shifting to Hyderabad, matrimonial disputes arose between the couple, particularly regarding the deceased's desire to leave India along with her daughter and her continued contact with her former boyfriend residing in France, it said.
After a full-fledged trial, the court convicted Kumar and sentenced him to undergo life imprisonment and also imposed the fine, the release added.
