Committed crime fearing that extramarital affair would be exposed; mother gets life imprisonment for pushing five-year-old son to death

BHOPAL: A woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment for killing her five-year-old son by pushing him from the terrace of a building after he discovered her extramarital affair. The incident occurred on April 28, 2023, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The convicted woman is Jyoti Rathod, wife of police constable Dhyan Singh Rathod.

According to the prosecution, Jyoti was in an extramarital relationship with her neighbour, Uday Indoliya. On the day of the incident, her son Jatin accidentally witnessed the two in a private moment. Fearing that the child would inform his father about the affair, Jyoti took him to the terrace of their two-storey house and pushed him down. Jatin suffered severe injuries in the fall and died within 24 hours. Initially, the incident was believed to be an accidental fall. However, Dhyan Singh grew suspicious about the circumstances surrounding his son’s death and began a private investigation.

Around 15 days after the child’s death, Jyoti reportedly confessed to the crime, saying she could no longer live with the guilt. Dhyan Singh secretly recorded her confession in audio and video formats and also collected CCTV footage from the house. He later approached the police with the evidence, which led to the murder being uncovered.

Based on the evidence produced by the husband, the court found Jyoti guilty of murder. However, due to a lack of evidence, her alleged lover, Uday Indoliya, was acquitted. CCTV footage and digital evidence submitted by the husband played a crucial role in securing the conviction.