(Picture used for representational purpose)

BENGALURU: The Karnataka high court has acquitted a man who killed his wife in 2009, stating that he was of “unsound mind”.

Mahadeva, a resident of Kollegal village in Chamrajnagar district , had killed his wife Jayamma in 2009. He had then consumed poison but survived. In July 2014, a fast-track court in Chamarajanagar district convicted and sentenced Mahadeva to life for the crime.

Overruling the previous sentence, a division bench of Justice R B Budihal and Justice B A Patil said that the court had failed to consider that he was suffering from a mental disorder and hence could not be convicted. The bench relied on medical evidence tendered by one Dr Suresh Badadmath, which stated that he was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the murder. “The accused was under treatment before as well as after the incident,” the high court pointed out.

The HC also directed prison authorities to refer Mahadeva to National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) Hospital in Bengaluru to ascertain whether he is qualified to be retained there.

The court has added that in future, if doctors find Mahadeva to be safe both for himself and society, his relatives have to be intimated about his release.

Read this story in Bengali

