The Mumbai Sessions Court has recently sentenced dentist Umesh Bobale to life imprisonment for brutally attacking his estranged wife, Tanuja, with 34 wounds in front of their 5-year-old son in December 2016.
The prosecution’s case stated that Bobale visited his wife at her mother’s house on weekends. On December 10, 2016, they went for a movie but got into a quarrel soon after returning home. During the altercation, Tanuja demanded maintenance in their ongoing divorce proceedings and threatened suicide.
Bobale claimed that the murder was a result of sudden and intense provocation, and he never intended to commit the act. Nevertheless, he slit his wife’s throat with a kitchen knife and immediately surrendered to the police.
Throughout the trial, the court denied bail to Bobale, citing that pending litigation couldn’t justify taking a life. Granting bail could potentially influence the only child witness, thus he remained in custody at Arthur Road Jail.
The prosecution asserted that the murder stemmed from a dispute over the alimony amount that Umesh was to pay after finalizing the divorce. The couple filed for divorce a few months before the tragic incident.
During the trial, the victim’s sister testified that the couple had disagreements and quarrels after six months of marriage. Bobale became suspicious of his wife, especially when she returned home late from work. When Tanuja became pregnant, he began doubting her character and insisted on a DNA test, which confirmed his paternity.
Therefore, during the trial, the prosecution also presented the testimony of the accused’s son, neighbors, and the investigating officer.
While handing down the sentence, Judge PP Bankar imposed a fine of Rs 20,000. As Bobale had been in prison since December 11, 2016. The court then directed that his pre-trial time be considered as part of the sentence he has to serve.
