Sheela Bhatti and Ors. v.

State of Uttar Pradesh

1. Sheela Bhatti was born in a middle-class family based in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh as the youngest
of three children of Ramesh Bhatti, a civil engineer, and Usha Bhatti, a housewife. She
completed her undergraduate degree in B.A. Philosophy in Agra.

2. In 1987 she visited her mother’s relative in Ghaziabad and met Sandeep Bhatti at a Diwali get-
together. Sandeep and Sheela became acquainted and eventually got married to each other in
May 1998. Sheela relocated from Meerut to Ghaziabad after her marriage and had her first
child Mahesh from marriage in September 1999.

3. In June 2002 Sandeep’s mother Shymala collapsed at the dining table after eating khichdi
which was prepared by Sheela the previous day. Shymala was suffering from hypertension and
the family doctor of the Bhattis suggested that she suffered a heart attack while eating and died
as a result.

4. In February 2003 Sheela informed her husband and father-in-law Santhosh Bhatti that she had
obtained a job at Delhi University as a guest lecturer. She used to leave home every day in the
scooter purchased by her father-in-law wearing an identity card showing her position in the
aforesaid university and used to return after sunset. The next year a second child Meera was
born to Sandeep and Sheela.

5. In June 2008 Santhosh Bhatti became ill after eating aloo paratha prepared by Sheela for lunch
and died after a day at home. Santhosh also suffered from similar health problems like his wife
and did not believe in going for regular health checkup as he believed one’s fate was in the
hands of the Almighty.

6. In September 2011 Sandeep Bhatti died after collapsing in the bathroom after consuming chole-
kulcha prepared by Sheela. Unlike his parents Sandeep did not suffer from any major health
problems and was in prime of health when he died.

7. Suspecting foul play Roshan Bhatti, the brother of Shymala Bhatti insisted on a post-mortem
for Sandeep Bhatti which was not conducted for the earlier two deaths. The report revealed the
presence of potassium cyanide in the viscera of Sandeep. On being questioned by the Manish
Garg, the SHO of Indirapuram P.S., Sheela explained that Sandeep had committed suicide due
to mounting debts of nearly 18 lakh rupees. The police after questioning other relatives who
corroborated Sheela’s statement by disclosing the failed business ventures of Sandeep - textile
distribution and engine oil manufacturing - which had forced him to be financially dependent
on his parents. The police filed a closure report after completion of investigation.

8. After the death of her parents-in-law and husband, Roshan Bhatti used to frequent the residence
of Sheela to monitor the upbringing of Mahesh and Meera. In April 2014 Roshan collapsed
after consuming coffee prepared by Sheela. Roshan Bhatti suffered from kidney failure and the
family doctor said that the said ailment was the probable cause of death.
9. In May 2014 Sheela attended the name ceremony of Roshan Bhatti’s grandson and Sumit
Bhatti’s second son Sukhwinder in Mayur Vihar Phase I and became friendly with Sumit
Bhatti. She stayed a few days at Sumit’s residence and prepared food for the numerous relatives
 who came for the function. Sumit’s first son Maninder became ill after eating a samosa cooked
by Sheela. Maninder was a chronic asthmatic who was an invalid from birth and everyone
suspected that the child died due to his poor health.

10. In January 2016 Sumit Bhatti’s wife Deepti Bhatti complained of severe toothache and went
to a local dental clinic with Sheela to get a root canal treatment done. While at the dental clinic
Deepti collapsed suddenly after drinking a glass of water which has handed over by Sheela.
Deepti suffered from severe epilepsy and her husband Sumit disclosed that she was having
daily episode of fits for the last two months.

11. In June 2016 Sumit and Sheela married each other and Sumit adopted Sheela’s children as his
own.

12. In August 2016 Sushant Bhatti, the brother of Sandeep, filed a criminal complaint before the
court of the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Ghaziabad alleging that Sheela Bhatti was
responsible for the deaths of several family members. The court directed registration of a FIR
upon which the police submitted a report which stated that all necessary investigations were
completed and there was no evidence of Sheela committing any offence.

13. Sushant approached the Allahabad High Court which directed the police to undertake a
thorough investigation in the case which was getting more and more media attention by the
day. Due to extensive media attention on the case, the case was transferred to the Sessions
Court, Gautam Buddha Nagar on the orders of the Supreme Court in a PIL filed by a leading
NGO.

14. At the end of investigation the police filed a chargesheet against Sheela Bhatti, Sumit Bhatti,
Vikram Sen, a jeweller who supplied the potassium cyanide to Sheela and Navtej Singh, the
employee of Vikram Sen who purchased the potassium cyanide.

15. During the trial Sheela’s classmates have described her as an extrovert and engaged in
numerous social activities such as NSS during her school and college days. She was also a
regular blood donor to the local hospitals as she had A- blood type. Evidence also revealed that
she did not pursue any further studies after her degree in Agra and that she resented her mother-
in-law’s control of finances in Ghaziabad.

16. At the end of the trial wherein 62 prosecution witnesses were examined and three experts in
the field of cyanide chemistry, the Sessions Court found Sheela guilty u/ss. 302/120B/201 IPC
and sentenced all accused to life imprisonment without any possibility of remission of sentence
on 1st August 2021.

17. The Allahabad High Court dismissed the appeals filed by Sheela and other convicts on 14th
April 2024 but enhanced the sentence to death sentence. Sheela and the other convicts have
decided to approach the Supreme Court.
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