HC begins hearing of Kalyani death case

Cuttack, Feb 15 (PTI) Hearing on the much-hypedcriminal revision petition of Kalyani Patra death case of 1995began in a special bench of Orissa High Court here today.

The case pertains to a dowry-related homicide case inwhich Kalyani was found dead in the bathroom of her in-lawshouse in Talcher on July 14, 1995 facing towards roof withligature marks on her throat. She was married to one AtmaramSahu in 1994.

Holding trial in the case, the Talcher additionalsessions court had convicted Atmaram and his mother Pratimafor murdering Kalyani. Atmaram was sentenced to undergo lifeimprisonment with a fine of Rs 10,000 while his mother wassentenced to undergo one year imprisonment with a fine of Rs1000.

Challenging the lower court�s decision of going softon the mother-in-law, Kalyani�s father Narayan Patra moved theHigh Court in a criminal revision petition. Although, notbeing an advocate by profession, Narayan argued the case ofhis daughter in the High Court too.

While the matter was being heard by a Division Benchin 2009, Narayan had written a letter to the then ChiefJustice requesting him to shift his case to another benchalleging that he would be prejudiced.

However, the case remained without being heard for allthese days until the present Chief Justice V Gopal Gowdarecently constituted a special bench comprising Justice IMahanty and Justice H S Bhalla to hear the criminal revisionpetition.