Uttarakhand High Court Upholds Life Sentence in Chilling Murder Case

Rajesh Gulati's conviction under Sections 302 and 201 IPC reaffirmed, as court finds the circumstantial evidence and motive compelling in the gruesome murder of his wife.

The Uttarakhand High Court has upheld the life imprisonment sentence of Rajesh Gulati for the brutal murder of his wife, Anupama Gulati, in a case that has drawn significant attention due to its chilling details. The court dismissed Gulati's appeal against his conviction under Sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code, confirming that the prosecution successfully established a complete chain of circumstantial evidence that pointed unequivocally to his guilt.

The judgment, delivered by Justices Ravindra Maithani and Alok Mahra, meticulously analyzed the circumstantial evidence, which included the last-seen theory, recovery of the deceased's dismembered body parts, forensic confirmations, and the motive rooted in Gulati's extramarital affair. Anupama was last seen on October 17, 2010, after which her communications ceased, and emails purportedly from her email ID raised suspicions. Her decomposed body, cut into pieces and stored in a deep freezer, was discovered in December 2010, following which Gulati was arrested.

The High Court reaffirmed the lower court's findings that the prosecution's evidence, based on the five golden principles laid down 

Bottom Line:

Conviction in a case of circumstantial evidence under Sections 302 and 201 IPC upheld. The prosecution established the chain of circumstances beyond reasonable doubt, including motive, last seen theory, recovery of the deceased's body parts, forensic evidence, and inconsistent explanations by the accused.

Rajesh Gulati v. State of Uttarakhand, (Uttarakhand)(DB) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2823040