Orissa High Court Upholds Life Sentence for Former Legislator in Wife's Murder

The Orissa High Court confirmed the life imprisonment of former legislator Ram Murti Gomango, convicted of murdering his wife in 2019. Despite claiming it was suicide, evidence pointed to intentional homicide. Gomango's appeal was dismissed, with the court directing him to surrender and pay a fine.

The Orissa High Court has reaffirmed the life imprisonment sentence of former legislator Ram Murti Gomango. Convicted by a special MP-MLA court for the murder of his wife five years ago, Gomango's appeal for acquittal has been dismissed.

In August 2019, the charred body of Gomango's wife, Sashirekha, was discovered in their Bhubaneswar home, to which he had initially claimed was a suicide. However, forensic evidence, including antemortem injuries, revealed foul play, leading to Gomango's conviction under IPC Sections 302 and 201.

The high court bench comprising Justices S K Sahoo and Chittaranjan Dash stated that the prosecution had proven beyond doubt Gomango's culpability and mandated him to surrender and pay the Rs 10,000 fine.

(With inputs from agencies.)