Woman accused of murder acquitted after 431 days in jail:Police fail to prove charges in Morena court; mother of four asks, ‘Who will return my lost days?’

A 35-year-old woman from Gwalior has been acquitted by the District Court after spending 431 days in jail. She was arrested under sections 302 and 201 for murder and destruction of evidence. Police had accused her of poisoning a man to death, but the court found no strong evidence. Death of Mahesh Jatav The case relates to 30-year-old Mahesh Jatav of Uttar Pura, Morena. He died from a poisonous substance on June 22, 2024, at JAH Medical College, Gwalior. Before his death, Mahesh had named the woman in a statement to doctors. Based on this, police registered a case and arrested her. Woman arrested at home On September 23, 2024, police arrived at her house late at night. She was taken to the police station and accused of poisoning Mahesh. She was presented in court the next day and sent to jail. Police initially promised bail in two days, but she remained imprisoned for over 14 months. Life in jail The woman described jail as hellish. She said the food was inedible, sometimes containing insects, and lentil soup was watery. Complaints were punished. She said poor inmates suffered while rich prisoners received better treatment, including favourite foods and comforts. Husband struggles alone Her husband, a daily wage worker, struggled to manage three daughters and a son alone. He could visit his wife only 2–3 times due to costs and loss of income. He had no money for a lawyer and relied on faith to stay strong. Police evidence weak Lawyer Sunil Kumar said police could not provide strong evidence. Mahesh’s statement only included the woman’s name, with no details about her husband, caste, or village. There were 15 women with the same name in the village. No scientific proof of poisoning or proper crime scene investigation was presented. Court acquits woman The District Court clearly stated that charges were not proven. In the absence of solid evidence, the woman was acquitted. Emotional reunion with children After release, her first concern was to see her children. Her three daughters and son hugged her, crying and asking her not to leave again. The woman said that not seeing her children for 431 days was the biggest punishment. A life disrupted The woman’s life and family were upended due to false accusations. She described losing almost a year and a half of her life, fear for her freedom, and the emotional strain of being separated from her children.