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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
A murder and a viral video: Who is Mamta Pathak, former chemistry professor, convicted of killing her husband by electrocution
In the austere courtroom of the Madhya Pradesh High Court's Jabalpur Bench, a 65-year-old woman, currently serving life imprisonment, stood alone before the judges. Though Mamta Pathak is not a lawyer, the former chemistry professor insisted she didn't need one to argue her own appeal in connection with the 2021 murder of her husband Neeraj Pathak, 63, a senior physician at the Chhatarpur District Hospital. A marital dispute in a small Madhya Pradesh town that culminated in a sensational murder trial in 2022 recently went viral on social media due to a 'rare' courtroom battle being waged by the aged convict. The video shows Justice Vivek Agrawal asking Mamta during a hearing last month, 'The allegations against you are that you murdered your husband through electrocution. The post-mortem doctor has categorically said there were signs of electric shock.' In the video, Mamta begins her defence by stating that it is 'not possible to differentiate between thermal and electric burn marks during a post-mortem (by simply looking at them)'. The convict then proceeded to explain that a burn mark found on a body needs to be removed and treated with chemicals to ascertain its source. 'Are you a chemistry professor?' the judge asks. Replying in the affirmative, Mamta adds, 'I don't know how the post-mortem has said this is an electric burn mark.' On April 29, 2021, Dr Pathak was found dead in his Loknathpuram house in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur town. The cause of death, according to the autopsy, was electrocution. Within days, his wife Mamta, a professor at a local government college, was arrested for his murder and charged under Section 302 (punishment for murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The trial, conducted at the Chhatarpur district court, was based on circumstantial evidence, including marital discord over Mamta's belief that her husband was having an affair. Besides this, her behaviour the day after his death — leaving the house with her son in the morning without informing anyone about her dead husband, going to Jhansi, over 100 km from Chhatarpur town, for dialysis, and admitting to her driver that she had made a 'big mistake', according to court documents — was also deemed suspicious. The clinching evidence was provided by her husband's relative, the star witness, who testified that Dr Pathak had called him hours before his death and said, 'Mamta is harassing me… she has locked me in the bathroom and hasn't given me food or water.' The district court had found the timeline, witness testimonies, and the recovery of a plug-in wire and sleeping pills from Mamta's residence sufficient to convict her. In his June 26, 2022, verdict, Additional Sessions Judge Rajesh Kumar Devaliya had convicted her to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000. Mamta, however, filed an appeal for suspension of sentence before the High Court's Jabalpur Bench, which started hearing her plea from July 19, 2022, onwards. During the first two hearings — on September 6, 2022, and November 28, 2022 — her counsels failed to appear before the court. On January 17, 2023, her counsel appeared for the first time and sought an expedited hearing, citing her age and her responsibilities toward her aged mother. The Bench, then comprising Justices Sujoy Paul and Amar Nath Kesharwani, dismissed her plea, citing the 'gruesome nature' of the crime. On April 16, 2023, Mamta refused legal aid and told the court that she had studied the case for 18 months. She filed another interim application in August, reiterating her desire to self-represent. Rejecting her plea, the court on August 31, 2023, said 'no occasion arises' to permit self-representation at that stage. The turning point came on March 12, 2024, when Mamta presented her own arguments for the first time. The next day, on March 13, she focused on two pleas: suspension of sentence and bail. She argued that the prosecution's case rested solely on circumstantial evidence linking her to her husband's death. There was no direct evidence or eyewitnesses, she told the court, adding that forensic evidence could not prove intent. The former professor also submitted extensive medical records citing her health issues — heart valve disease, kidney dysfunction and suspected bone cancer — and highlighted that she was the sole caregiver for her mentally and physically ill son. Acknowledging the gravity of her ailments and responsibilities, the court granted temporary suspension of sentence and bail for six months. On August 29, 2024, Mamta returned to court to seek an extension. Once again, she chose to self-represent. She informed the court that her treatment had been delayed due to financial hardship and that her son, diagnosed with schizophrenia, was entirely dependent on her. The court extended her bail. On April 16, 2025, Mamta addressed the court once more, during which she confirmed declining the legal aid she had been offered. This time, the Bench observed that she had chosen self-representation consciously and noted it on record. Her arguments, once again, remained inconclusive. The next day, on April 17, she told the court that she wished to be assisted by her former counsel, senior advocate Surendra Singh, to complete the remaining submissions. The judgement in the case is reserved, her legal team says.
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First Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Mamta Kulkarni finally reacts to Mahamandleshwar controversy: 'It was all in God's hands for me to...'
Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev openly slammed Mamta's anointment as the Mahamandleshwar and said that nobody can attain sainthood 'in a single day." read more Former Bollywood actress who featured in films like Baazi, Karan Arjun and Sabse Bada Khiladi among others, recently stepped down from her position as Mahamandaleshwar of the Kinnar Akhada at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Mamta, who adopted a new name — 'Shri Yamai Mamta Nandgiri," said that she would continue her spiritual path as a 'Sadhvi" (a female spiritual seeker). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mamta's action came after Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi and the Kinnar Akhada's founder, Rishi Ajay Das disputed over giving the title of Mahamandaleshwar to the former actress. Talking about the controversy, the former actress told ANI, '…It was all in God's hands for me to become Mahamandaleshwar in that Kumbh, which was such a holy occasion in 140 years. God provided me with the fruits of 25 years of my 'tapasya'. So, that happened." Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev openly slammed Mamta's anointment as the Mahamandleshwar and said that nobody can attain sainthood 'in a single day." 'The great Kumbh festival of Sanatana, where our roots are connected, is a grand celebration. This is a sacred festival Some people associate vulgarity, intoxication, and inappropriate behaviour in the name of Kumbh – this is not the true essence of the Maha Kumbh," Baba Ramdev told PTI. In a press release issued on January 30, 2025, Rishi Ajay Das said, 'As the founder of Kinnar Akhada, I am hereby relieving Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi from his position as Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of the Kinnar Akhada, effective immediately. His appointment was made with the goal of promoting religious activities and uplifting the transgender community, but he has deviated from these responsibilities." STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Over 1,000 SHG women to benefit from loan distribution in Varanasi
Over 1,000 women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) will be benefited from a loan which was distributed in a programme for SHG women at the Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI), Varanasi. The loan distribution programme was held at RSETI. It was organised on the initiative of deputy commissioner self-employment Pawan Kumar Singh and regional head of Union Bank of India Varanasi Shailendra Kumar. On this occasion, Union Bank of India distributed a loan of ₹36,85,000 ( ₹3.68 crore). A demo cheque was symbolically handed over to the women of the group. In the programme, Mamta of Vikaskhand Sevapuri and Mamta of SHG Harhua shared their success stories, highlighting the change and journey in their lives by taking a loan from the SHG. Lead Bank Union Bank of India's Varanasi region head Shailendra Kumar spoke about continuing loan distribution to the women of the group and providing necessary support from the bank. District mission manager Shravan Kumar Singh appealed to the Bank Sakhis to connect more SHG women with livelihood opportunities. On this occasion, Vikram Singh, Rekha Kesari, beneficiaries of Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyam and Solar Rooftop schemes, along with Bank Sakhis and SHG women, were present.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
MP professor convicted of killing husband challenges autopsy report in HC; court hears plea with ‘open mind', reserves verdict
Mamta Pathak, a 60-year-old chemistry professor from Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur, has contested the forensic findings that led to her conviction for her husband's death — arguing before the High Court that her scientific knowledge disproves the prosecution's theory of electrocution. Currently out on bail after being sentenced to 20 years in prison, Pathak has taken the unusual step of arguing her appeal personally before a division bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court . The judges, Justices Vivek Agarwal and Devnarayan Mishra, have reserved judgment and suspended her sentence in the meantime. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kulkas yang belum Terjual dengan Harga Termurah (Lihat harga) Cari Sekarang Undo 'Thermal and electric burns look similar — only chemical tests can tell them apart' A video of the professor making her case in court has been widely circulated online. In it, she asserts that it is scientifically inaccurate to determine electric burns through visual inspection alone. 'You can't distinguish electric burns from thermal burns in an autopsy without chemical analysis,' she told the bench. When asked by Justice Agarwal whether she was indeed a professor of chemistry, she confirmed she was. The judge then pointed out that her defense had failed to raise these scientific questions at trial — to which she replied, 'I was in jail then.' Live Events Her credibility took a hit, however, when she mistakenly swapped nitric acid for hydrochloric acid in an argument — a lapse the bench noted. A marriage marked by conflict — and a death shrouded in suspicion Mamta's husband, Dr Neeraj Pathak (63), was found dead on April 29, 2021, with what investigators described as electrical burns in multiple areas. Although the couple had reconciled after a separation, prosecutors alleged their relationship remained volatile due to Mamta's suspicions of infidelity. On the day of his death, Neeraj reportedly called a relative, saying Mamta had confined him to a bathroom for days, denied him food, and physically assaulted him. When police intervened following a tip-off, Mamta released him. That same evening, he was found dead. Mamta claimed she discovered his lifeless body when she went to him for food. She said she left for dialysis the next morning in Jhansi — but failed to inform police until she returned later that evening, citing the hospital's refusal to treat her without a Covid certificate. Investigators found sleeping pills in Neeraj's room, and the trial court convicted Mamta based on circumstantial evidence, including the relative's testimony and a phone recording from the day of the alleged abuse. In her appeal, Mamta also questioned why no official inspection was done to confirm a short circuit at the insured home. She pointed to the absence of decomposition-related details in the autopsy despite the postmortem being conducted 36 hours after death. 'Why is there no mention of foul smell?' she asked. While the court acknowledged that it was hearing her case 'out of turn' and 'with an open mind,' Justice Agarwal reminded her that criminal appeals are ultimately decided based on 'the touchstone of evidence.' The judgment is now pending.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
‘I know impact of electrocution': Convicted chemistry professor contests husband's autopsy report in Madhya Pradesh HC
Mamta Pathak, a 60-year-old chemistry professor convicted of her husband's murder, is challenging the autopsy report, arguing her expertise allows her to differentiate between electric and thermal burns. BHOPAL/JABALPUR: A 60-year-old professor, sentenced to 20 years in jail for killing her husband, has challenged the autopsy report saying that as a chemistry professor, she knows what impact electrocution has on the body. The court heard her arguments recently and reserved judgment, pending which her sentence has been suspended. The convict, Mamta Pathak of Chhatarpur, is arguing her case before an HC division bench of Justices Vivek Agarwal and Devnarayan Mishra. Videos of her argument are being shared widely on social media. She is seen trying to drive home her contention that it's not possible to differentiate between 'electric and thermal burn marks' in an autopsy, and this can be done only through chemical analysis. HC tells chem prof it's hearing her arguments with an 'open mind' Justice Agarwal asks her if she is a professor of chemistry; she nods and says, "Yes." The judge then asks her why her counsel did not ask the question of the doctor who had conducted the post-mortem examination during cross-examination in the trial court. She says, "I was in jail then." Justice Agarwal points out her error when she mixes up nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. According to the prosecution, Mamta's husband, Dr Neeraj Pathak (63), was found dead in his house in Chhatarpur on April 29, 2021. Electric burn marks were detected at five places on his body. Mamta, who teaches chemistry in a Chhatarpur college, lived separately from her husband but had returned to him a few months before his death. Although the couple had started living together again, they often fought over her suspicion that Neeraj had had an affair, the prosecution said. On the day of the incident, Neeraj called up a relative and told him that Mamta had been "torturing" him for two-three days; that she had not given him food and kept him locked in the bathroom. According to the prosecution, Neeraj said he suffered head injuries when she "thrust him into the bathroom". The relative contacted police, and Mamta released him from the bathroom when the cops intervened, says the prosecution. The relative, who is a witness in the case, called Neeraj later in the day to check on him. A recording of their phone conversation was presented in the trial court. The same night, Neeraj died around 9pm. According to Mamta, she went to ask him for food but found that his pulse had stopped and he was dead. The next day, she went to Jhansi for dialysis but it couldn't be done in the absence of a Covid certificate. She returned at 9pm and only then informed police that her husband was dead, police said. Investigators found sleeping pills in her husband's room. The trial court held her guilty on the basis of circumstantial evidence and sentenced her to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment. In her argument, Mamta said her husband had got his house insured and it was safe from any kind of accident due to a short circuit or leak. She claimed that no expert inspected the house following the death of her husband. The prof also questioned why there was no mention of foul smell emanating from her husband's body in the autopsy report or anywhere else as the postmortem examination was conducted 36 hours after his death and the body starts decomposing after 18 hours. The bench told Mamta that they are hearing her "out of turn" and with an "open mind" but cases are decided on the "touchstone of evidence". The verdict has been reserved.
