Gwalior Court Verdict: Life Imprisonment for Mother in Jatin Murder Case

Gwalior: An Additional Sessions Court in Gwalior has sentenced Jyoti Rathore to life imprisonment for the murder of her three-year-old son, Jatin, while acquitting her alleged lover Uday Indoulia due to lack of sufficient evidence. The verdict was delivered on Saturday and was based entirely on circumstantial evidence.

The incident dates back to April 28, 2023, under the jurisdiction of Thatipur police station. According to the prosecution, Jyoti Rathore was on the rooftop of her house with her neighbor, Uday Indoulia, when her son Jatin followed her upstairs. Investigators stated that the child allegedly saw his mother in an intimate moment with the man. Fearing exposure, Jyoti pushed the child from the two-storey rooftop.

Jatin suffered severe head injuries and was rushed to Jayarogya Hospital, Gwalior, where he succumbed to his injuries on April 29, 2023, after a day of treatment. Initially, the family, including the child’s father Dhyan Singh, a police constable, believed the incident to be an accident.

However, Jyoti’s behavior after the child’s death raised suspicion. She reportedly became anxious, suffered sleepless nights, and claimed that her son appeared in her dreams. Her condition deteriorated despite medical consultation. Eventually, overwhelmed by fear and guilt, she confessed to her husband that she had pushed the child from the rooftop.

Lacking direct witnesses or immediate evidence, Dhyan Singh discreetly recorded conversations with his wife over a period of time. During these discussions, Jyoti gave contradictory statements about the motive and location of the incident. When taken to the rooftop to recreate the sequence of events, she reportedly changed her version multiple times.

After nearly two months of internal verification, Dhyan Singh approached the police in June 2023 and filed a formal complaint. Jyoti Rathore was arrested and interrogated. During questioning, she initially attempted to mislead investigators but later admitted to pushing her son with the intention to kill him, though she continued to give inconsistent reasons.

The police investigation ultimately concluded that the crime was not accidental nor linked to superstition or domestic disputes, but was motivated by an extramarital relationship. On the evening of the incident, a family gathering was underway. Taking advantage of the situation, Jyoti allegedly went to the terrace to meet her lover. The child followed her, leading to the fatal act.

While the court found sufficient circumstantial evidence to convict Jyoti Rathore, it ruled that the prosecution failed to establish Uday Indoulia’s direct involvement in the crime, resulting in his acquittal.

The court pronounced the sentence on January 17, bringing closure to a case that shocked the city and highlighted the complexities of circumstantial evidence in criminal trials.