GOWRAMMA, Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKAGANGAMMANAGUDI POLICE STATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal is by the accused in S.C. No.262/2011 on the file of the Additional Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court XIV, City Civil Court, Bengaluru City. The learned Trial Judge by his judgment dated 13.06.2012 found the accused guilty of the offence under Section 302 of IPC and sentenced her to undergo imprisonment for life and pay fine of Rs.15,000/- with default sentence of six months simple imprisonment.

(2.) The name of the deceased is one Kondalaraya, son of Narasimhalu. The Sub-inspector of Police set the criminal law into motion on the basis of a statement given by the deceased Kondalaraya as per Ex.P4 when he was in the hospital. In Ex.P4, it is stated that the deceased was a Tractor Driver. Behind his house, the family of the accused was living. About 4 or 5 years prior to the date of incident, the husband of the accused namely Narayana had committed rape on the sister of the deceased namely Vasantha and in that connection, Narayana had been convicted and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for a period of 14 years. It is stated that in the background of this incident, the accused, who is wife of Narayana, used to quarrel with the deceased and his family members and she used to say that she would take revenge against their family. On 03.05.2009, the deceased was in the house. At that time, the accused asked him to give her money to buy liquor. As he said that he did not have money, the accused went inside her house and brought kerosene and poured on him. The deceased just thought that she was doing it for fun and therefore, he kept quiet. Immediately, the accused set him on fire and thus the deceased caught fire. Seeing this, the accused went inside her house and brought water to douse the fire. Some of the neighbourers secured an Ambulance and shifted him to Victoria Hospital for treatment.

(3.) Based on this, the Police investigated into the matter and filed charge sheet against the accused for the offence punishable under Section 302 of IPC.