Overview
- Justice Milind Sathaye overturned the Pune sessions court’s 1998 verdict that had convicted Ramprakash @ Popat Govind Manohar under IPC Sections 306 and 498-A.
- The court ruled there was no material proving cruelty or abetment, stressing that a spouse’s unhappiness or weeping cannot establish harassment beyond reasonable doubt.
- Prosecution shortcomings included failure to examine neighbours, a hostile panch witness, and an unproven recovery with doubtful ownership of a purported sewing machine.
- Records showed Manohar lodged a missing-person report the day his wife disappeared, and her parents did not allege harassment during the initial police inquiry.
- The acquittal follows a 27-year legal ordeal, with the High Court directing a Rs 15,000 bond as the State may seek to challenge the decision before the Supreme Court.