Kadam, a welding worker, got married to Sulochana in 1989. They had two children. However, according to the complaint lodged with the police by Sulochana’s mother, Kadam started asking for dowry after the children were born. He also beat up Sulochana on a few occasions and mentally harassed her.

Sulochana was strangled to death on September 5, 1993. She was only 25 then.

Dharavi police arrested Kadam for dowry harassment and Sulochana’s murder. He was sent to prison and it was only after one and a half years that Kadam was released on bail.

Since Kadam was not in custody, his case was not sent for trial for many years. As per court records, the trial began in 2003 when the statements of all the witnesses were recorded. However, the case was transferred yet again and it was kept in a limbo. In all, the case was transferred to three different judges and four different prosecutors led the evidence for the State.

A total of 21 witnesses were examined against Kadam, of which four turned hostile. What proved to be the clinching evidence was a medical report, which said that Kadam had suffered injuries on his face.