Wife gets 8 years for husband's murder cover-up

In Kanpur, a woman was sentenced on Tuesday to eight years of rigorous imprisonment by an additional sessions court for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the death of her husband. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 11,000 on Monika, convicting her under Sections 304 (Part II) and 201 of the Indian Penal Code.

Monika's husband, Umesh Kumar Yadav, an ambulance driver, had gone missing from their Bidhanu home in February 2023. His body was later found by family members, partially buried beneath the floor of a room in their residence, with a cloth tied around his neck.

Umesh's father had alleged that frequent disputes occurred between the couple, often related to Umesh's drinking habits. During the trial, the defense presented a self-defense argument, claiming Umesh assaulted Monika while intoxicated and died during a struggle. However, the court concluded that the prosecution failed to establish a motive or intention for murder, thus ruling the offense as culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Additionally, Monika received a two-year sentence for destroying evidence, with both sentences to be served concurrently.