A sessions court in Vadgaon Maval on April 17 acquitted a 52-year-old contractor accused of murdering his elderly mother, holding that the prosecution failed to establish a complete chain of circumstantial evidence despite proving the death was homicidal.
Additional Sessions Judge Rajendra V. Huddar, in a judgment delivered on April 17, acquitted Rambabu Matlori, who was charged under IPC Section 302 for allegedly killing his mother, Nagamma Matlori, in August 2023.
The case arose after the woman’s body was found near Sangameshwar Mahadev temple in Warangwadi village on August 10, 2023. A case (C.R. No. 207/2023) was registered at Talegaon MIDC Police Station.
The prosecution alleged that the accused took his mother on a scooter to a secluded spot and killed her by crushing her head with a stone. While the court accepted medical evidence that the death was due to head injuries, it ruled that the accused’s involvement was not proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The chain of circumstances is not complete,” the court said, citing investigative lapses and inconsistent witness testimony. Key witnesses, including family members, did not support the prosecution, weakening the “last seen” claim.
The accused denied the charges, stating his mother, around 80, was mentally unstable and prone to erratic behaviour. He suggested her death could have been accidental, possibly due to a fall near the temple.
{{/usCountry}}The accused denied the charges, stating his mother, around 80, was mentally unstable and prone to erratic behaviour. He suggested her death could have been accidental, possibly due to a fall near the temple.
{{/usCountry}}The court noted that the defence had no independent evidence and relied on the prosecution’s record. It also found the alleged motive unproven and no reliable evidence showing intent or that the accused took her to the spot to kill her.
“In the absence of evidence, the benefit of doubt has to be given to the accused,” the court said.
The judgment also flagged a failure to examine key witnesses, including the investigating officer, and found that evidence such as CCTV footage, the recovery of articles, and alleged bloodstains was inconclusive.