Mumbai: Artist Chintan convicted of wife’s murder 8 years ago

Pradeep and Shivkumar Rajbhar, who were convicted of murder, in the court premises (left) artist Chintan Upadhyay at the Dindoshi sessions court in Goregaon on Thursday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The Dindoshi sessions court on Thursday found artist Chintan Upadhyay guilty of abetting and conspiring to kill his wife, Hema Upadhyay, and her lawyer, Haresh Bhambhani. The court also convicted four other accused - Vijay, Pradeep and Shivkumar Rajbhar - of murder. Vidhyadhar Rajbhar, who is accused of executing the murders, is still at large.

Presiding over the case, Additional Sessions Judge S Y Bhosale held Chintan accountable for abetment and conspiracy to commit the murders. The other accused have been convicted under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 302 (murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 109 (if the act abetted is committed in consequence of the abetment and when no express provision is made in the IPC for its punishment). The court is scheduled to hear arguments regarding the quantum of sentence on October 7.

Vijay Rajbhar, who was convicted of murder, with a police officer. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Hema, an installation artist, and Bhambhani were murdered on December 11, 2015. Their bodies were concealed inside cardboard boxes, which were subsequently discarded in a ditch in Dahanukarwadi nullah in Kandivli West. Her estranged spouse was accused of conspiring to orchestrate their deaths. Chintan was initially arrested soon after the murders. He later secured bail Chintan's legal counsel argued that the police had implicated him falsely in the double murder, taking advantage of his marital issues.

Hearing finished last month

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The sessions court had completed the hearing of the final arguments and reserved the matter for judgment last month. During the prosecution's final submission, it contended that Chintan was the "pioneer of the conspiracy" to murder his wife and her lawyer. The prosecution alleged that Chintan harboured intense hatred towards the victims. The artist had been out on bail and was present in court when the verdict was pronounced. The cops then detained him and sent him to jail with the other accused.

Prosecutor Speak

Special Public Prosecutor Vaibhav Bagade said, "I give credit to all the witnesses and officers with the help of whom we were able to convict the accused." He added that 56 witnesses had been examined in the case. "Vijay, Pradeep and Shivkumar Rajbhar have been found guilty under IPC Sections 120B, 109 and 302. "These trio and Vidyadhar were present at the scene of the murder, the proof of which was the CCTV camera, and the most crucial evidence was the recovery of belongings of the deceased, including credit cards and jewellery, from their possession after their arrest. Chintan was found guilty under Sections 120B and 302," Bagade said.

56
No of witnesses examined in the case