Cop missing from trial, man let off in murder case

A man accused of brutally killing his wife while in an inebriated state was acquitted by a sessions court because the investigating officer in the case never turned up to testify, reports Vignesh Iyer.

A man accused of brutally killing his wife while in an inebriated state was acquitted by a sessions court because the investigating officer in the case never turned up to testify.

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The court had summoned the police inspector from Antop Hill police station thrice to give testimony.

However, the officer was absent in all the proceedings, after which the court on Thursday decided to proceed without his testimony.

The Antop Hill police said the accused, Venkatesh Bhuma, had gone to his house on January 20, 2008, with three of his friends.

Venkatesh was allegedly drunk then and asked his wife Padma for Rs 50.

When she refused, the police had said, Venkatesh abused her, grabbed her by the hair and dashed her against a wall. Padma sustained severe head injuries.

Venkatesh then allegedly dashed her head against a gas cylinder. When Padma asked for water to drink, he poured a bucket of water on her, said the police.

Venkatesh also allegedly asked his 13-year-old daughter to bring chilli powder and threw it on Padma’s face, then twisting her neck, which led to her death.

Further, the police had said, Venkatesh cleaned the bloodstains and asked his daughter to dispose of the cloth, in an attempt to conceal evidence.

During the trail, Venkatesh’s daughter was declared hostile after she said no such violent incident occured.

Advocate Wahab Khan, who appeared for Venkatesh, said the prosecution relied upon the statement of the minor witness, who turned hostile, and did not produce any other independent witnesses in the case.

Khan also argued that the prosecution had not examined any neighbours for evidence.

The court then recorded Venkatesh’s statement and set him free for lack of evidence.