Chokhani murder case: Kishan Yadav acquitted of all charges

Kolkata: The Alipore Court on Friday acquitted domestic help Kishan Yadav in connection with the murder of 54-year-old Usha Chokhani on March 16, 2008. The elderly lady, who used to live alone in her apartment at Mandevilla Gardens under Gariahat police station area, was found murdered with a pair of scissors piercing her throat and a deep wound on her neck.

"After nine years of prolonged custody trial, 17th Additional District and Session Judge Subhasish Ghosal of Alipore Judges Court acquitted Yadav of all charges as police could not produce enough evidence to prove hi involvement in the crime," Subhamoy Samaddar, the counsel for Yadav said.

There were as many as 31 witnesses who had deposed before the court during the trial.

The anti homicide squad of the detective department of Kolkata Police had arrested Yadav in January 2009 nearly a year after the murder of the victim from Bengaluru. He had been in judicial custody since March 2009 and was not granted bail even for once.

The sleuths pleaded before the court that Chokhani's murder was 'for gain', however, the only thing that went missing from the apartment was a piece of gold earring.

A watch, a ring and an earring were found intact on Usha's body when police recovered it from the drawing room of her third-floored apartment.

Sammadar, counsel for the accused pleaded before the court that the elderly lady's was killed due to family dispute.

"She lived alone while her two sons, Bharat and Nikhil, lived with their father Atmaram Chokhani in Ballygunge Place. The lady was looked after by a number of domestic helps. Moreover, nothing went missing from the house. The earring that was primarily found missing was also recovered from the apartment itself during the course of investigation. There were as many as 26 injury marks on the body that makes it clear that it was an act of vengeance and not for gain," he reasoned.

Her daughter Ruchi Sabetia lives in Delhi.

It may be mentioned that the victim lady had hired Kishan, a resident of Banka in Bihar, only 10 days before the murder on the recommendation of an employee of a neighbourhood tea stall.