Rayagada, Sept. 18 (UDN): The Additional District and Sessions Court in Rayagada has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for murdering his wife with an axe following an altercation in February 2024.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on the convict, identified as Gurunath Gouda. In case of non-payment of the fine, he will have to undergo an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment.
Murder followed altercation
According to the case details, the incident took place on February 6, 2024, within the jurisdiction of Kashipur police station.
Gurunath Gouda was accused of attacking his wife, Pushpa Gouda, with an axe during a heated dispute, resulting in her death.
Kashipur Police registered a case following the incident and arrested the accused. The case was initially taken up by the Kashipur JMFC Court before being transferred to the Rayagada Additional District and Sessions Court for trial.
Forensic evidence, witness statements cited
Additional District and Sessions Judge Alpana Swain convicted Gouda under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The prosecution relied on forensic evidence and the testimony of 14 witnesses during the proceedings. Based on the evidence presented before the court, the accused was found guilty of the murder.
The prosecution was represented by Additional Public Prosecutor Rajat Ranjan Khatua, assisted by advocate S.N. Pradhan.
The court subsequently awarded the convict life imprisonment and imposed the monetary penalty.