Chemistry professor who used science to explain husband's murder gets life sentence
Srinagar, July 31: In a courtroom moment that captivated the internet, former chemistry professor Mamta Pathak — who argued her own appeal without a lawyer — has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Madhya Pradesh High Court for the murder of her husband. The 97-page verdict reaffirmed an earlier ruling by the district court and drew widespread attention due to the rare circumstances surrounding the case and the woman at its centre.
Mamta Pathak, once a chemistry professor in Chhatarpur, was convicted in 2022 for the murder of her husband, Dr Neeraj Pathak, a retired government doctor. The couple reportedly had long-standing disputes, and in 2021, Dr Pathak died under mysterious circumstances at their home. The police initially recorded the death as being caused by electric shock. However, forensic and post-mortem findings raised doubts, and investigators later filed murder charges against Mamta.
Initially deemed an accidental electrocution, the death raised red flags after forensic evidence contradicted that theory, leading to murder charges against Mamta.
The district court, citing medical evidence and forensic findings, sentenced her to life in prison.
While out on interim bail to care for her mentally challenged child, Mamta chose to represent herself during her appeal at the Jabalpur bench of the High Court. Her courtroom defence — rooted in scientific reasoning — quickly gained traction online. Calm and articulate, she argued that thermal burns and electric burns can appear similar and only a chemical analysis could conclusively distinguish the two. When the judge asked, “Are you a chemistry professor?” she replied simply, “Yes.”
Her poise, conviction, and refusal to rely on legal counsel drew admiration and viral attention. Clips from her hearing circulated widely, with many online expressing sympathy and fascination at her self-representation.
Despite the attention and her detailed defence, the High Court upheld her conviction. Government advocate Manas Mani Verma told NDTV that the court handled the case with seriousness, appointing senior lawyer Surendra Singh as amicus curiae to ensure Mamta received a fair trial.
