According to additional public prosecutor Vikas Shah, who appeared on behalf of the State, Ravi and Jyoti were neighbours who got married in June 1995 after running away from home. Ravi who was studying at that time used to make ends meet by selling cloth door-to-door. The cracks developed in their relationship when Ravi stopped working.

In December 1995 they had a fight following which Jyoti came back home and started staying with her parents. When she did not return for four months, an angry Ravi went to his in-laws place and on the night of April 15, 1996 beat up his father-in-law and attacked Jyoti with a knife.

Jyoti was taken to the hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. The same night Ravi went to a neighbourhood police station, confessed to his crime and surrendered. He also produced the knife he had used for the assault.