Chemistry Professor Accused of Murder Shocks Court With Scientific Defense

Mamta Pathak, a 60-year-old assistant professor of chemistry accused of murdering her husband by electrocution, stunned the Madhya Pradesh High Court by challenging forensic findings using her academic expertise. During the hearing, she argued that “it is not possible to differentiate between thermal and electric burns in a post-mortem room,” delivering a mini-lecture on tissue reactions, chemical deposits, and the need for lab-based analysis, leaving the Bench visibly surprised.

Pathak was convicted by a sessions court for allegedly drugging and electrocuting her husband, Neeraj Pathak, in April 2021. The case gained traction after audio evidence and witness testimonies emerged, despite her earlier claims of innocence and reports of domestic abuse. She is currently out on bail, with the High Court having reserved its judgment following her scientific courtroom defense.