Mishra, a resident of Kolsewadi in Kalyan (E), married Meena in 1990. An alcoholic and a drifter when it came to jobs, Mishra also suspected his wife's fidelity and would even beat her up in public view, says the petition.

On November 15, 1997, Mishra returned home at around 11.45 pm and began an argument with Meena over the food. Mishra then emptied a five litre kerosene can on his wife and burnt her. Despite suffering 100 per cent burns, Meena regained consciousness at the hospital. Before the police could take Meena's statement, her husband threatened that he wouldharm the children if she squealed on him. Meena told the police that she had got burnt because the stove burst, but she later told her brother Deviprasad Tiwari the truth, and asked him to look after the children after her death.

Tiwari then contacted Saroj Dube of Savdhaan, an NGO. Dube along with a Special Executive Officer, Jaysingh Kale visited Meena at the hospital on November 17, where she gave a fresh statement before passing away at 8.45 am. Police arrested Mishra and registered an offence under Sec 498 (a) (harassment), 309 (abetment to suicide) and 302 (murder). Counsel for the accused P B Bhagat argued that it was impossible for a person who had suffered 100 per cent burns to give a coherent statement. Calling the statement an afterthought to trap his client, Bhagat maintained that the death had been caused by a stove burst. But public prosecutor Dilip Bhangare presented witnesses who had seen Meena making her statement to Dube, the SEO and doctors.

Additional III sessions magistrate N P Kukdesentenced Mishra to three years RI and Rs 5,000 fine (or six months more of the RI) for the offence under Sec 498 (a) and 14 years RI and Rs 45,000 fine (or two-and-a-half years more of the RI). The money thus collected should be invested in the names of the children who are currently with their relatives in Uttar Pradesh.