Orissa HC Sustains Ex-MLA’s Life Sentence For Murdering Wife

The Orissa High Court has upheld the life sentence of former legislator Ram Murti Gomango, convicted of murdering his wife 5 years ago.

Gomango’s wife, Sashirekha, was found dead in August 2019, her charred body was discovered in the bathroom of the MLA’s official residence in Bhubaneswar. At the time, Gomango claimed she had taken her own life.

In a ruling by a special MP-MLA court in Bhubaneswar, Gomango was convicted under IPC Sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing the disappearance of evidence), receiving a life sentence and a fine of Rs 10,000. Contesting the verdict, Gomango appealed to the Orissa High Court.

However, a division bench of Justices S.K. Sahoo and Chittaranjan Dash confirmed the conviction, stating, “The conviction stands firmly substantiated.” The bench noted that the prosecution had proven Gomango’s intentional involvement in his wife’s death, who was reportedly pregnant at the time. Forensic evidence, including antemortem head injuries, indicated intentional homicide, dismissing any possibility of suicide.

The court maintained that the sentence imposed was lawful, leaving no grounds for interference. Dismissing Gomango’s appeal, the bench instructed him to surrender to the trial court and pay the fine. “In case the convict fails to surrender, the trial court shall proceed in accordance with law,” it added.

Gomango’s political career began with his win in the Gunupur (ST) Assembly seat in Rayagada district in 1990 on a Janata Dal ticket. He later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after Janata Dal merged with Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and won the seat again in the 2000 elections.

He subsequently contested the 2004, 2009, and 2014 elections but was unsuccessful in each.

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