Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 12: The charge of murdering two ladies six years back in the town as a result of family quarrel has been proved. The chief district and sessions court till pronounce the quantum of sentence on February 15.

Sanjay Kumar Dutt was charged with murdering his wife, Archana (26), and mother-in-law, Nirmala (45), even as his three children and relatives watched. After finding that the murder charge has been properly proved with the help of witnesses and evidence, judge, Subramanya J N, delivered this verdict.

On the night of April 30, 2015, at around 10:30 pm, Sanjay Kumar, angered by his fight with wife, had chased her and attacked her with a sabre. When his mother-in-law tried to block him, he attacked her besides injuring some relatives with the weapon. His mother-in-law, Nirmala, who had sustained serious injuries, had died on the spot while wife, Archana, died at the hospital.

The then police circle inspector, K Srikanth, had filed charge sheet on July 14, 2015. The hearing began in 2019 and 25 out of 44 listed witnesses were examined. The accused who is in jail since May 1, 2015, has not been granted bail so far. The hearing was conducted via video conferencing. After the accused was produced in the court following the hearing of the opinions, the judge will announce the quantum of sentence on February 15.

Sanjay had married Archana, who is from the Billawa community, in 2007. He stayed in the house of his wife and worked as a production manager in a company located at Baikampady Mangaluru. District chief public prosecutor, Shanthi Bai, argued the case, duly assisted by senior assistant, Jayanti K and Badrinath Nairy. In the case, the six-year-old son of the accused came forward and appeared as a witness. The public prosecutor has sought the death sentence in this case.