Bhadrak: Bhadrak Additional District and Sessions Court on Monday sentenced a man to life imprisonment for murdering his wife over dowry demands, 14 years after their marriage.
The convict, Ajit Jena of Kalyani village under Dhamnagar police limits, was found guilty of killing his wife, Arati, by brutally assaulting her with a crowbar in 2017 following repeated dowry demands. Judge Prabhat Ranjan Rayguru delivered the verdict, awarding life imprisonment under Section 302 IPC along with a fine of ₹10,000, with an additional two months’ rigorous imprisonment in case of default.
Ajit was also sentenced to one year’s rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹2,000 under Section 498(A) IPC for subjecting his wife to cruelty, and another one year’s imprisonment and ₹2,000 fine under Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. All sentences will run concurrently, ensuring he spends the remainder of his life behind bars.
According to case details, Arati, daughter of Yogendra Jena of Bandhatia village, had married Ajit about 14 years ago. At the time of marriage, her family had paid ₹20,000 as dowry, followed later by another ₹30,000. Despite this, Ajit persistently demanded a motorcycle. Although he managed to buy one on finance, he allegedly resented having to pay the installments.
The couple had three children. Four months after their marriage, Ajit had moved to his in-laws’ home in Kalyani village. On August 16, 2017, Ajit attacked Arati with a crowbar, leaving her critically injured. Though neighbors rushed her first to Dhamnagar CHC and later to Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital, she was declared dead by doctors.
Following a complaint lodged by Arati’s father, police registered a case under Sections 302, 498(A), and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. Ajit was arrested soon after and sent to jail.
