Thane, April 10 A court in Maharashtra's Thane district has acquitted a 48-year-old woman accused of killing her would-be daughter-in-law, citing "blatant inconsistencies" and "contradictory versions" in the victim's dying declarations.
A copy of the order dated April 8 was made available on Friday.
Additional Sessions Judge (Bhiwandi) N K Karande ruled that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused, Kamal Chandrakant Kanoja, a resident of Vikramgad in Palghar district.
The prosecution alleged that Kanoja poured kerosene on Amita Gotarna, the would-be wife of her stepson, and set her on fire on October 27, 2020. Gotarna, who lived with the accused family, sustained 72 per cent burns and later succumbed to her injuries at Nashik Civil Hospital.
Defence Counsel Ramrao S Jagtap argued that Gotarna's dying declarations were inconsistent and potentially influenced by interested witnesses, including her father and brother.
The court's decision hinged on two conflicting dying declarations. While one given to the police implicated the accused, the other, recorded by a magistrate and admitted as evidence, stated that the fire was an accident, noting "nobody was present there".
The court further highlighted the failure to examine the medical officer who supposedly certified the victim's fitness to give a statement.
The judge pointed out the possibility of the victim being influenced, and also noted that the chemical analysis reports were insufficient to link the speech-impaired woman to the crime.
"The prosecution has not proven its case beyond reasonable doubt," the judge concluded, ordering that Kanoja be released immediately.