Mamta Pathak, 65, a retired chemistry professor, became viral on social media for using science to defend herself in husband's murder case in the courtroom. Now, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has upheld the life sentence handed to her in the 2022 conviction of her husband.
Pathak's husband, Dr Neeraj Pathak, a retired government doctor, was found dead at his Chhatarpur home on April 29, 2021. The mysterious death was initially believed to be caused by electric shock but forensic and autopsy reports led the investigators to file murder charges against the retired professor. Reports also revealed that the woman did not inform anyone about her husband's death and left for Jhansi for her son's dialysis. On June 26, 2022, a district court cited medical reports to sentence her to life. It was found that elderly couple had marital discord and she suspected him of having an affair.
However, Mamta obtained bail despite conviction to look after her mentally challenged child. She then move the MP High Court for appeal and decided to defend the case herself without legal support.
Mamta Pathak's viral courtroom moment
During her appeal, Mamta's arguments at the court went viral, with the video showing the retired chemistry professor pointing out how electric and thermal burns could seem similar but only thorough chemical analysis would prove which is which.
In the video, the judge tells her, "The post-mortem doctor has categorically said there were signs of electric shock."
To this, Mamta replies, "In the post-mortem, it is not possible to differentiate between the thermal burn mark and the electric burn mark."
A surprised judge then asks her, "Are you a chemistry professor?" to which she replies, "Yes."
The high court on Tuesday dismissed the woman's claim that her husband died of cardiovascular disease. It observed that Mamata tortured her husband to death, giving his anti-psychotic drug before giving him electric shock.
