Early Times Report
JAMMU, Sept 18: An Additional Sessions Court in Jammu has sentenced Parkash Paswan to rigorous imprisonment for life for the murder of his wife Nibha Kumari, besides imposing a fine of ?50,000.
Additional Sessions Judge Ritesh Kumar Dubey passed the sentencing order on September 16 after Paswan was found guilty under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to the prosecution case recorded in the order, the accused suspected his wife of having an illicit relationship. Following a dispute in October 2024, he allegedly attacked her repeatedly with a brick, causing fatal injuries. Her body was found the following morning.
The prosecution sought the maximum punishment, describing the killing as extremely brutal and arguing that repeated blows on a vital part of the body warranted the death penalty.
The defence, represented by Pooja Jamwal, Deputy LADC, sought leniency on the grounds that Paswan had no previous criminal antecedents, was 31 years old, had dependent family members and retained prospects of rehabilitation. The Court held that although the offence involved repeated and forceful brick blows and the murder stood proved, the circumstances did not place the case within the "rarest of rare" category warranting death.
Paswan was accordingly sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment and fined ?50,000. In default of payment of the fine, he will undergo a further three months' rigorous imprisonment. The period already spent in custody is to be considered towards the sentence. The Court also informed him of his right to appeal before the High Court within 60 days.
(JNF) |
