The verdict was delivered on Saturday by the Additional Sessions Court, concluding a case that initially appeared to be a tragic accident but later emerged as a deliberate act of murder.

The incident dates back to April 28, 2023, and occurred in the Thatipur police station area of Gwalior. The accused, Jyoti Rathore, was on the roof of her two-storey house along with her neighbour Uday Indoliya, with whom she was allegedly in a relationship. During this time, her son Jatin (5) came onto the roof and allegedly saw his mother with Indoliya.

According to the prosecution, Jyoti feared that the child might disclose what he had seen to his father or others. Acting out of panic, she allegedly threw the child from the roof, causing him to fall two floors onto the road below.

Eyewitness accounts and investigation records revealed that the child lay injured on the road, but the mother did not rush to his aid. Jatin was later taken to the hospital by others. He suffered severe head injuries and was admitted to Jayarogya Hospital, where he died the following day, on April 29, 2023.

Initially, the family believed the incident to be accidental. The child’s father, Dhyan Singh, a police constable, assumed his son had slipped and fallen due to negligence. No immediate suspicion was raised.

However, the case took a dramatic turn 15 days later, when Jyoti reportedly expressed remorse and told her husband she had committed a “grave mistake.” Sensing something amiss, Dhyan Singh questioned her further and assured her that mistakes could happen. During this conversation, Jyoti allegedly confessed to the act.

Dhyan Singh recorded the audio-video confession and also retrieved CCTV footage from cameras installed at the house. Armed with this evidence, he approached Thatipur police and filed a formal complaint.

Police arrested Jyoti Rathore and Uday Indoliya and later filed a charge sheet after completing the investigation. During the trial, Public Prosecutor Vijay Sharma argued the case on behalf of the state.

The court found Jyoti guilty of murder and awarded life imprisonment. However, it ruled that the evidence was insufficient to conclusively link Indoliya to the act, leading to his acquittal.

The judgment underscores the importance of digital and circumstantial evidence in uncovering crimes that may initially appear accidental.