<p>Veteran artist Chintan Upadhyay was sentenced to life by a Mumbai court for the murder of his estranged wife Hema Upadhyay and the latter’s lawyer Haresh Bhambhani.</p><p>Hema (43) and Bhambani (65) were murdered on December 11, 2015.<br>Chintan (51) was arrested on 22 December, 2015. He spent nearly six years in jail before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in September 2021.</p><p>Chintan was taken into custody after the conviction by Additional Sessions Judge S Y Bhosale on October 5, 2023.</p><p>After last week’s hearing on quantum of sentence, the court passed the conviction order on Tuesday. </p>.Couple sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering man over land dispute in Jharkhand.<p>Besides Chintan, three others - Vijay Rajbhar, Pradeep Rajbhar and Shivkumar Rajbhar - who worked in a fabrication unit - too were given life sentences.</p><p>The prime suspect in the case, Vidyadhar Rajbhar, a metal fabrication artist, who the police claimed had carried out the murders at the behest of Chintan, has remained untraceable since the crime.</p><p>Vijay was a driver while Pradeep and Shivkumar were helpers in the fabrication unit. </p><p>The crime came to light on 12 December, 2015, when two bodies wrapped in plastic and packed in separate cardboard boxes were found dumped in an open drain at Dahanukarwadi in Kandivali here. The bodies were identified as those of Hema and Bhambhani.</p><p>Police had claimed that Hema and Chintan - painters and installation artists married in 1998, were in a legal battle on divorce and alimony - for the past five years and there was dispute among them over a flat in Juhu. </p><p>Chintan was found guilty under section 109 with 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, while the three others were found guilty of sections 302 (murder), 201, 404 and 34 (common intention) of the IPC. </p><p>During the hearing of quantum on sentence, Chintan has said: “My conscience is clear, I have not committed any offence. I’m innocent. However, the court has found me guilty. No mercy should be shown. I’m ready to accept whatever punishment the court decides. I believe in the law and judiciary.”</p><p>Special public prosecutor Vaibhav Bagade had sought “maximum punishment” for Chintan and three other accused. </p>
<p>Veteran artist Chintan Upadhyay was sentenced to life by a Mumbai court for the murder of his estranged wife Hema Upadhyay and the latter’s lawyer Haresh Bhambhani.</p><p>Hema (43) and Bhambani (65) were murdered on December 11, 2015.<br>Chintan (51) was arrested on 22 December, 2015. He spent nearly six years in jail before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in September 2021.</p><p>Chintan was taken into custody after the conviction by Additional Sessions Judge S Y Bhosale on October 5, 2023.</p><p>After last week’s hearing on quantum of sentence, the court passed the conviction order on Tuesday. </p>.Couple sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering man over land dispute in Jharkhand.<p>Besides Chintan, three others - Vijay Rajbhar, Pradeep Rajbhar and Shivkumar Rajbhar - who worked in a fabrication unit - too were given life sentences.</p><p>The prime suspect in the case, Vidyadhar Rajbhar, a metal fabrication artist, who the police claimed had carried out the murders at the behest of Chintan, has remained untraceable since the crime.</p><p>Vijay was a driver while Pradeep and Shivkumar were helpers in the fabrication unit. </p><p>The crime came to light on 12 December, 2015, when two bodies wrapped in plastic and packed in separate cardboard boxes were found dumped in an open drain at Dahanukarwadi in Kandivali here. The bodies were identified as those of Hema and Bhambhani.</p><p>Police had claimed that Hema and Chintan - painters and installation artists married in 1998, were in a legal battle on divorce and alimony - for the past five years and there was dispute among them over a flat in Juhu. </p><p>Chintan was found guilty under section 109 with 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, while the three others were found guilty of sections 302 (murder), 201, 404 and 34 (common intention) of the IPC. </p><p>During the hearing of quantum on sentence, Chintan has said: “My conscience is clear, I have not committed any offence. I’m innocent. However, the court has found me guilty. No mercy should be shown. I’m ready to accept whatever punishment the court decides. I believe in the law and judiciary.”</p><p>Special public prosecutor Vaibhav Bagade had sought “maximum punishment” for Chintan and three other accused. </p>