MUMBAI — 1959 · Murder
The Nanavati Case
On 27 April 1959, naval commander K. M. Nanavati shot dead businessman Prem Ahuja, whom he had learned was having an affair with his wife, at Ahuja's home in Bombay, and then surrendered to police. The case drew enormous press attention and divided public opinion. A jury found Nanavati not guilty, but the Bombay High Court set aside the verdict as unsound, convicted him of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment. India's Supreme Court upheld the ruling in 1961. Nanavati was released by pardon a few years later. The case became a symbol of the move away from jury trials in India and set a precedent on the interpretation of provocation.
- Date
- 1959
- Place
- Maharashtra, India, Mumbai, IN
- Category
- Murder
- Case Status
- Solved
- Coordinates
- 18.9667, 72.8058 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 27 April 1959Prem Ahuja was shot dead in Bombay; the perpetrator surrendered.
- 1959The jury found the accused not guilty.
- 1960The Bombay High Court convicted him of murder.
- 24 November 1961India's Supreme Court upheld the conviction.
- 1960sHe was released by pardon.
Sources
- Wikipedia — K. M. Nanavati v. State of Maharashtra en.wikipedia.org ↗
- Indian Kanoon — K. M. Nanavati vs State of Maharashtra (1961) indiankanoon.org ↗
- Wikipedia
- Indian Kanoon
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.