The Wrongful Conviction of Jadunath
By Lokanath Mishra
Jadunath, a 35-year-old accountant at a reputable bank, lived with his wife, Sarah, and her 4-year-old step-daughter, Emily, in a quiet neighborhood in Hyderabad. Sarah, a 26-year-old divorcee, had married Jadunath after meeting online. They had a happy marriage, and Jadunath loved Emily like his own.
In October 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, Sarah’s life was brutally cut short. The police investigation focused on Jadunath, citing a false motive of a heated argument over Emily. The maid, brought by Sarah, testified against Jadunath. Despite his protests of innocence and a clean record, he was charged with murder and convicted in a fast-track court.
Jadunath spent 2 years in prison, maintaining his innocence. Meanwhile, the real killer remained at large, committing similar crimes in Secunderabad. A re-examination of the original evidence by CID including a bloody glove, revealed a DNA match to a convicted felon, Ranga Reddy.
In 2023, Jadunath was finally exonerated and released from prison. Ranga Reddy was arrested and charged with multiple murders. Jadunath’s story highlights the flaws in the justice system and the devastating consequences of wrongful convictions.
Jadunath’s experience serves as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and the need for continued reform in the justice system to prevent similar injustices from occurring in the future. The Dark Past of Ranga Reddy : Ranga Reddy, Sarah’s ex-husband, had a history of violence and illicit relationships. He was known to have affairs with multiple women, including their maid servant, Lalita. In the past, he had been arrested and imprisoned for killing a pregnant woman.
After his release from prison on bail in 2020, Reddy’s violent tendencies resurfaced. One day, while Jadunath was at work, and Lalita and their daughter were in the outside the house, Reddy visited Sarah’s new home, where she lived with her daughter, Emily, and maid servant, Lalita. A heated argument ensued, and Reddy killed Sarah with a knife, wearing gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints. However, he mistakenly left the glove at the crime scene.
Reddy, aware of his relationship with Lalita, convinced her to testify against Jadunath, claiming he was the killer. Lalita, influenced by Reddy’s manipulation, repeated the false story to the police. The police, without conducting a thorough investigation, arrested Jadunath.
The judge, relying on Lalita’s testimony, convicted Jadunath. However, the CID investigation into a separate murder case in Secunderabad revealed Reddy’s involvement. Further investigation exposed Reddy’s role in Sarah’s murder, and he was arrested along with Lalita.
Jadunath, an innocent man, suffered greatly due to the negligence of both the police and the judiciary. His case highlights the importance of thorough investigations and the need for the justice system to protect the innocent.