Thane: Nearly six years after a young woman was set ablaze at her residence in Diwa, a Thane Sessions Court convicted her husband for murder, relying primarily on her dying declarations and other corroborative evidence. Additional Sessions Judge B.D. Shelke convicted Shahir Devram Parkhe (32), under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for murdering his wife, Payal Arjun Vidhyasagar, and sentenced him to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 5,000.The court also directed issuance of a show-cause notice to a key prosecution witness who turned hostile during trial, asking why she should not be prosecuted for perjury.According to the prosecution, the couple had a love marriage but frequently quarrelled as the accused suspected his wife’s character. On the intervening night of March 17 and 18, 2020, Parkhe allegedly returned home under the influence of alcohol, poured kerosene on Payal after an argument and set her ablaze. She sustained severe burn injuries and was shifted to Thane Civil Hospital, where her statement was recorded. She succumbed to her injuries on March 23, 2020.During the trial, a key prosecution witness turned hostile and claimed her earlier statement before the magistrate was recorded under police pressure. However, the court held that the admitted portions of her statement, coupled with the victim’s dying declarations, oral dying declaration made immediately after the incident, medical evidence and other circumstantial evidence, conclusively established the accused’s guilt.The court further observed that the witness had deliberately suppressed material facts and intentionally given false evidence during the trial. Holding that a prima facie case of perjury was made out, the judge directed issuance of a show-cause notice to the witness, asking why she should not be prosecuted under Section 193 of the Indian Penal Code for intentionally giving false evidence in judicial proceedings.
