The Bhubaneswar Special Court on Tuesday awarded life imprisonment to former Gunupur MLA Ramamurthy Gamango in connection with the murder of his wife.
On Saturday, the court convicted Gamango in the 28-year-old murder case of his wife, Sashirekha. The court pronounced its judgment after hearing 11 witnesses and going through 15 documents and several circumstantial evidence.
The half-burnt body of Sashirekha was recovered from the former legislator's residence at Kharavela Nagar in Bhubaneswar on September 28, 1995. As per reports, the victim was pregnant.
The Kharavela Nagar police had then registered an unnatural death case. Later, they converted it into a murder case, charging the accused with murder and destroying evidence under Sections 302 and 201 of IPC.
Ramamurthy had earlier feigned ignorance citing that his wife had committed suicide and he was not associated with the case in any way.
Public prosecutor, Rashmiranjan Bramha said, “The victim was burnt alive. After hearing the matter, a fine of Rs 50,000 has been levied and a default will attract another 1-year jail-term. The court has also awarded a life sentence for murder.”