Bombay High Court acquits man after 10 years in prison for wife's murder

The Bombay High Court has acquitted Prasad Kulkarni, overturning his 2017 conviction for the murder of his wife, Kirti. The judges ruled that the prosecution’s case relied on weak evidence and inconsistencies. Kulkarni had been serving a life sentence since his trial six years ago. Kirti Kulkarni suffered severe burns at her home on May 12, 2011, just four months after her marriage. She died from her injuries four days later. In 2017, a lower court convicted Prasad Kulkarni of murder and sentenced him to life in prison.

The high court’s decision hinged on several flaws in the prosecution’s case. Judges noted that Kirti’s dying declarations were contradictory—some suggested an accident, while others blamed Kulkarni. The court also criticised the lack of medical proof showing that her burns could only have been caused by kerosene being poured on her.

Further doubts arose from the investigation’s shortcomings. Key witnesses were never examined, and the seizure of a kerosene container was questioned. The judges stressed that convictions must rest on solid evidence, not assumptions. As a result, they extended the benefit of doubt to Kulkarni and quashed his conviction. The acquittal means Kulkarni will walk free after nearly a decade behind bars. The court’s ruling highlights the importance of thorough investigations and reliable evidence in criminal cases. His original life sentence has now been officially set aside.