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His life was destroyed: Widow of man falsely accused of murder fights for an inquiry

Updated May 5, 2026 at 11:56 AM

The timeline traces Sougat Mukherjee’s life from his arrival in Scotland and being wrongly accused in a Glasgow murder, through his eventual exoneration and his death, to his widow Sapna Mukherjee seeking justice and a government inquiry. It also covers the later conviction of the actual killer and Sapna’s appeal to India’s prime minister for accountability and compensation.

Why It Matters

Shows how wrongful criminal accusations can devastate families across borders and raise questions about due process and international diplomatic protections.

Timeline

13 Events

Sapna Mukherjee appeals to Indian PM Modi for inquiry and compensation

May 5, 2026

Sapna Mukherjee wrote to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging backing for a bid to sue Police Scotland and the COPFS, and calling for a formal Indian government inquiry.

Sougat Mukherjee dies in Mumbai

January 17, 2023

Sougat Mukherjee died in Mumbai from acute liver cirrhosis.

Sougat exonerated by India's MEA

May 1, 2019

On 1 May 2019, Sougat Mukherjee was officially exonerated by India's Ministry of External Affairs.

Zhi Min Chen admits to the murder; jailed

April 2019

Chinese-born Zhi Min Chen admitted to the murder in April 2019 and was jailed for at least 20 years.

Chen's sentence reduced on appeal

2019

Chen's sentence was later reduced to 16 years on appeal.

DNA breakthrough links Wylde murder to Chen

2018

In the summer of 2018, a DNA match linked Tracey Wylde's murder to Zhi Min Chen, who was taken into custody after an assault in Glasgow.

Sougat named as suspect; CCTV stills published

February 2015

The following month, he was named as a suspect and pictured in a report in the Sunday Mail; CCTV stills featuring a man with Tracey Wylde were published.