The Delhi High Court has denied bail to a man accused of murdering his wife, chopping her body into pieces and dumping the remains in a septic tank. [2026 LiveLaw (Del) 775]

Justice Girish Kathpalia observed that the “gruesome manner” in which the crime was committed cannot be ignored while considering bail.

The Court dismissed the bail application filed by one Ashu Pal in relation to an FIR registered at Police Station Prem Nagar for the offences under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

The Delhi Police alleged that on February 22, 2019, Pal went to the police station and stated that he had killed his wife, chopped her body into pieces and dumped the remains in a septic tank.

While he was being interrogated, a PCR call was received from the deceased's brother stating that she had been killed and that her body had been recovered from the septic tank.

The deceased's brother had alleged in his complaint that since she had given birth to three daughters, Pal and his family members used to torture her and demand dowry.

The prosecution further alleged that Pal called the deceased's mother and told her that he had murdered his wife. When the deceased's brother visited the accused's house, he allegedly found blood stains and the woman's body in the septic tank.

Seeking bail, Pal's counsel argued that there were material contradictions in the testimonies of the deceased's mother and brother. It was also argued that the accused had never visited the police station to confess to the crime and that the trial was proceeding at a slow pace.

On the other hand, the prosecution submitted that the trial was not at all slow in pace and the allegations against the accused disentitled him of bail.

It was also submitted that the blood-stained weapon allegedly used in chopping off the dead body of the deceased and her clothes and jewellery, etc. were recovered and were examined forensically.

Dismissing the bail plea, the Court said that while delay in trial is a ground for grant of bail but it is not the only ground.

Justice Kathpalia said that while considering grant or denial of bail, the court cannot shut its eyes to the gruesome manner in which a lady was killed followed by chopping off of her body and throwing her in the septic tank.

“Considering the above circumstances, I do not find it a fit case to grant bail to the accused/applicant. Therefore, the bail application is dismissed,” the Court said.

Title: ASHU PAL v. THE STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Del) 775

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