Man pours acid on couple, kills both; gets death sentence

In a shocking and disturbing case, a 28-year-old man was sentenced to death by the district court on Thursday in Maharashtra's Palghar town for killing a married couple by pouring acid on them.

According to News18 reports, the convict, Guddu Krish Yadav, was a worker at a chemical factory in Boisar MIDC in 2015 when the incident took place. According to the prosecution, Yadav poured concentrated sulphuric acid on his colleague Rajkumar Balram Ravidas (35) and his wife Geeta (30) when they were fast asleep in the chemical company's quarters, leading to their death. All three worked together at Tarapur MIDC, Boisar. The incident was an outcome of a fight over a mobile phone.

Media reports further state that, the incident dates back to November 2015, when Yadav had stolen the mobile phone of Ravidas, who complained to their boss. Following which Yadav was let off with an warning. Enraged over being reprimanded by the boss, Yadav poured acid on Ravidas and his wife while they were sleeping. While Ravidas died the same day, Geeta succumbed to the burn injuries the next day, Additional Public Prosecutor Deepak Tare had told the court.

A total of 12 witnesses including the two workers who lived in the factory premises were examined in the case, reports Times of India (ToI).

District and Sessions Judge R N Majgaonkar also ordered compensation in accordance with a Maharashtra government scheme for acid attack victims for the couple's orphaned children, aged five and eight years.