Nagpur: A heart-wrenching incident of filicide has come to a close with a Sessions Court in Nagpur delivering a verdict of life imprisonment for Santosh Meshram. The man was found guilty of pushing his two young sons, aged seven and three and a half years, into a well, resulting in their tragic demise. The court found him guilty under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for this heinous crime.
Santosh Meshram, who worked as a labourer, had been living away from his family for over eight months a year. His troubled marriage was marred by frequent conflicts with his wife, whom he accused of infidelity. Additionally, he harboured doubts about being the biological father of both his children, leading to further tension in the family.
Today's Rate
Sat 21 Dec. 2024
The court learned that prior to the fatal incident, Meshram had attempted to poison his two children in a bid to eliminate them. However, his wife’s vigilance prevented the tragedy from unfolding, as she promptly intervened and saved their lives.
On October 11, 2018, an ominous turn of events unfolded. After a series of heated exchanges with his wife, Meshram took both his sons along with him. When the wife inquired about the children’s well-being, she was shocked to discover that they were missing. Meshram tried to mislead his wife and brother-in-law when they confronted him about the whereabouts of the children.
Concerned for her children’s safety, the wife sought assistance from the police and lodged a missing persons’ complaint, suspecting her husband’s involvement. Subsequent investigations led the police to interrogate Meshram, who eventually confessed to the heinous act of pushing both children into a well in the Waghdhara area of Isasani at 11 am on that fateful day.
“The accused is convicted for an offence punishable under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code (IPC). He is sentenced to life imprisonment till death. He is imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 and in default simple imprisonment of one month,” judge SB Gawande said while pronouncing the verdict.
The Assistant Public Prosecutor, Varsha Saikhedkar, fervently argued for the maximum punishment to be given to the accused, considering the gravity of the crime.
