Husband googled ways to erase strangulation marks:Ratlam man sentenced to life in wife’s murder; court considers search history as key evidence

A sessions court in Ratlam has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for murdering his wife. The judge treated the accused’s Google search history—where he looked up ways to hide strangulation marks—as key evidence. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 3,000. Life term pronounced by sessions court Principal Sessions Judge Neena Ashapure delivered the verdict. The court convicted Rakesh Chaudhary under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Along with life imprisonment, a fine of Rs 3,000 was imposed. Frequent disputes led to the crime District Public Prosecutor Suresh Kumar Verma said the accused, Rakesh, is a resident of village Jharsandla under Bilpank police station. He was a habitual drinker and often returned home late at night. His wife, Bulbul, regularly objected to this, leading to daily arguments. Wife strangled after assault Troubled by constant disputes, Rakesh assaulted Bulbul and strangled her to death. There were no eyewitnesses to the crime. Searches to erase evidence After the murder, the accused tried to find ways to destroy evidence. On his mobile phone, he searched questions such as: No eyewitness, but digital proof decisive Bilpank police station inspector Ayub Khan said the accused confessed during strict questioning. Police recovered his mobile phone search history, which showed attempts to conceal the crime. It was also proved in court that Bulbul was last seen alive with her husband. Conviction based on circumstantial evidence The court relied on circumstantial evidence and digital proof, including the mobile search history. The prosecution argued that this chain of evidence clearly established the crime. Accepting these arguments, the court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment.