In a rare and widely followed case, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has upheld the life sentence of Mamta Pathak, a former chemistry professor, for the murder of her husband, Dr Neeraj Pathak.

What made the case unusual and grab national attention was the fact that Mamta Pathak represented herself in court, without a lawyer, and calmly argued technical points using her knowledge of chemistry. Her courtroom clips went viral on social media, with many calling her a “real-life courtroom drama” example.

About the case

Mamta Pathak, a former chemistry professor, was convicted in 2022 for murdering her husband, Dr. Neeraj Pathak, a retired government doctor, by electrocution. The incident took place in July 2021 at their residence in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh.

At first, the police believed that Dr. Neeraj had died due to an electric shock and registered it as an accidental death. However, during the investigation, the post-mortem report and forensic evidence raised serious doubts. Medical experts noted that the burn marks and injuries did not align with an accidental electric shock, suggesting that someone had intentionally electrocuted him. This led police to file a murder case against his wife, Mamta Pathak.

The case took a dramatic turn when it came to light that Dr. Neeraj had reportedly recorded a video message before his death, in which he blamed his wife, Mamta, for his deteriorating mental and physical condition. In the video, which was later circulated online, he allegedly said that if anything happened to him, his wife should be held responsible. This video became a key piece of evidence in the case.

Mamta Pathak and her husband, Dr. Neeraj Pathak, had a troubled marriage. They often fought, and Mamta suspected that her husband was having an affair. This caused a lot of tension between them. Police believe that because of these personal problems, Mamta decided to kill him. Since she was a chemistry professor, she used her knowledge to make it look like an accident caused by an electric shock.But later, forensic tests and post-mortem reports showed that it was not an accident. The court found her guilty and gave her a life sentence.

Later, Mamta was granted interim bail to take care of her mentally challenged child, during which she filed an appeal in the Madhya Pradesh High Court and argued the case herself without a lawyer.

Represented herself in court

While out on bail, Mamta challenged the lower court’s verdict in the Madhya Pradesh High Court (Jabalpur Bench). Without a lawyer, she chose to argue her appeal herself.

In court, she claimed that electric burns and thermal burns are similar and that only a proper chemical analysis could prove the cause of death. Her calm and confident arguments surprised the court. When asked by the judge if she was a chemistry professor, she confirmed, “Yes.” This moment was caught on video and quickly spread online.

Despite her unique defence and the attention it received, the High Court did not agree with her arguments. It said the evidence strongly pointed to her guilt.

Fair hearing ensured

To ensure a fair trial, the court had appointed senior advocate Surendra Singh as amicus curiae (a neutral legal expert appointed to assist the court). Government advocate Manas Mani Verma confirmed the seriousness with which the case was handled.

In its 97-page judgment, the High Court said the murder was grave and upheld her life sentence. The court has now ordered Mamta Pathak to surrender immediately.