A district court in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar has sentenced a man to death for the murder of his wife and two minor sons, describing the crime as falling within the “rarest of rare” category. The court also imposed a fine of ₹3 lakh on the convict.
The verdict was delivered by Sanjeev Kumar Tyagi in a case that shocked the region when it occurred in 2021.
Triple Murder Took Place in Family Home
According to the prosecution, the murders occurred on the night of September 6, 2021, in Kishundas Patti village under the Turkpatti police station area.
The convict, Rajesh Gupta, was found guilty of killing his wife, Nikki Gupta (30), and their two sons, Shivam (7) and Ayush (3), while they were asleep.
Investigators alleged that he used sharp-edged weapons to slit their throats in a brutal attack inside the family’s home.
Suspicion of Infidelity Cited as Motive
Police investigations revealed that Rajesh frequently suspected his wife of having an extramarital relationship and often quarrelled with her over the issue.
According to the chargesheet, the prolonged marital discord eventually culminated in the murders.
The complaint was filed by Nikki’s brother, Amar Gupta, who accused Rajesh of killing the three victims using a knife, a sickle and another sharp agricultural implement.
Accused Reportedly Surrendered After Crime
One of the most startling aspects of the case was the accused’s conduct after the murders.
According to investigators, Rajesh walked into the Turkpatti police station shortly after the killings and informed officers about what he had done before surrendering himself.
Police then arrested him and launched a detailed investigation into the crime.
Court Hears Evidence From 11 Witnesses
During the trial, the prosecution presented testimony from 11 witnesses and argued that the murder of a woman and two young children warranted the harshest possible punishment.
Prosecutors urged the court to classify the case as a “rarest of rare” offence, a legal standard established by the Supreme Court for imposing the death penalty in exceptional cases.
After reviewing the evidence and witness statements, the court agreed with the prosecution’s assessment.
Court Calls Crime ‘Rarest of Rare’
In its judgment, the court observed that the deliberate killing of a wife and two helpless minor children was an exceptionally heinous act that shocked the conscience of society.
Holding that the crime met the threshold for the “rarest of rare” doctrine, Judge Tyagi sentenced Rajesh Gupta to death and imposed a fine of ₹3 lakh.
Community Reacts to Verdict
The judgment has revived memories of the horrific incident in Kishundas Patti village, where the murders had caused widespread outrage and grief.
Relatives of the victims and local residents reportedly welcomed the verdict, saying it delivered justice for Nikki Gupta and her two young sons nearly five years after the crime.
Understanding the ‘Rarest of Rare’ Doctrine
The “rarest of rare” principle was established by the Supreme Court of India in the landmark Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab case. Under this doctrine, the death penalty may be imposed only in exceptional circumstances where life imprisonment is considered insufficient and the crime is deemed extraordinarily brutal or shocking.
Courts generally reserve the punishment for cases involving extreme cruelty, multiple murders, terrorism, or offences that profoundly impact society.
