The sessions court in Kalyan on Tuesday sentenced the son of a former deputy district collector to life imprisonment for killing his wife. Four other members of his family, who had been arrested under the Dowry Act, were released.
The accused, Dilip Giri, was arrested by the Badlapur police in January 2007. Dilip’s wife Kalpana was strangled to death at the Giris’ Badlapur residence on January 18, after which they tried to pass off her death as a heart attack.
The Giris might have even succeeded, as there were no visible marks on her body to suggest murder. However, her father, B.L. Puri, insisted on a autopsy, which revealed strangulation to be the cause of death. Dilip was subsequently arrested while his family went absconding. The police later registered a case of dowry death against Dilip’s family, after it was revealed during investigations that they had demanded a flat in Thane from Kalpana’s family.
In April 2007, Dilip’s father Babruram, mother Sharda, son Dhiraj and daughter-in-law Poonam were arrested by the state CID, who had taken over the investigation. Anticipatory bail pleas filed by the Giris were dismissed by the sessions court, the Bombay high court as well as the Supreme Court.
“It was also learnt that Kalpana had suspected Dilip of having an affair. He would come home drunk and speak to an unknown woman late at night. Kalpana had also found some erotic text messages in Dilip’s cellphone,” said an officer with the Badlapur police station.
The officer added that it was later revealed that Dilip and Kalpana had a fight on the night of her death and he strangled her to death in a fit of rage.
“The last three years were mentally taxing, as every time I went to the court, I had to see my daughter’s killers, which made my blood boil. There have even been times when I have had to sit next to Dilip,” said Mr Puri. He added that he intends to see that Dilip’s family, who have been released, are punished too.
“I will be getting in touch with my lawyers and appeal against the acquittal. I am prepared to go till the Supreme Court for this,” he said.
Meanwhile, as an indication of the support that Babruram still enjoys, 20 to 25 men gathered outside the sessions court and prevented journalists from getting close to the Giris. Photographers were also prevented from taking photographs
of Dilip as he was being taken away following his sentence.