Gunupur (Rayagada): A local court in Odisha’s Rayagada district on Monday sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife in a dowry-related case.
The verdict was delivered by Additional District and Sessions Judge Deb Dutt Pattnaik of the Gunupur ADJ Court after examining evidence and recording testimonies from 18 witnesses during the trial.
The accused, identified as Surendra Sabar of Gadia Khala village under Gunupur block, was convicted under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and awarded life imprisonment with rigorous labour. The court also imposed a fine of ₹10,000, failing which he will have to undergo an additional one year of imprisonment.
Public Prosecutor Ishwar Gamang represented the prosecution in the case.
According to case details, Surendra had married Santoshi Bauri, daughter of Jhili Bauri of Gunupur Dhep Sahi. At the time of marriage, the bride’s family allegedly gave ₹3 lakh in cash along with other gifts. However, within days of the wedding, Surendra reportedly began subjecting Santoshi to physical and mental harassment, demanding more money from her family.
On April 5, 2024, at around 5 am, Santoshi was found dead under suspicious circumstances. Her family subsequently lodged a complaint, accusing Surendra of murder linked to dowry demands.
Based on the complaint, police registered a case of dowry-related murder and arrested the accused. Following investigation and trial, the court pronounced the sentence on Monday.
