Man gets life 14 yrs after trying to murder wife for insurance

Kolkata: Fourteen years after Ritesh Kumar Shaw — a garments trader from Burrabazar — attempted to murder his wife in front of their four-year-old son, a Barrackpore court on Friday sentenced him to life imprisonment for orchestrating the crime to claim insurance benefits.Santonu Chakrobarty, public prosecutor-in-charge, told TOI that the accused shot his wife, Madhumala Shaw (40), after he made an insurance policy of Rs 1 crore in her name and named himself as the nominee. Cops said Shaw planned the attack, assuming his wife would die. He then lodged a false complaint at Khardah Police Station, claiming two unidentified bike-borne assailants shot her.The verdict was delivered by the Additional District & Sessions Judge of the Fast Track 3rd Court, Barrackpore, Debargha Biswas, who convicted Shaw under IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder) and relevant provisions of the Arms Act. Three other co-accused — Puja Shaw alias Priti, Raja Ram Shaw, and Chandan Shaw — were acquitted due to lack of evidence. One accused, Uma Devi Shaw, died during the course of the trial.The incident took place on Feb 3, 2011, outside Regent restaurant in Kamarhati, where Shaw, Madhumala, and their son went for dinner. "In his written complaint, Shaw claimed his wife was shot while she was placing a food parcel in the car's boot," said Indrabadan Jha, DCP (Central), Barrackpore.However, the victim survived despite being shot in the mouth. During her statement to the police, she accused her husband of being the shooter and said the attack stemmed from prolonged dowry harassment and a motive to claim an insurance payout.Late SI Brojo Gopal Sharma, who initially handled the investigation, collected crucial evidence including the bullet, spent cartridge, and the weapon used. A charge sheet was filed on Nov 25, 2011 naming the five accused, all of them Shaw's relatives.