XXXXXXXX Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This case arises from a night of unspeakable violence. Under the cover of darkness, the accused is alleged to have turned upon his own family and carried out a brutal acid attack on his wife and four innocent children.

(2.) The accused was charged as the perpetrator of this heinous crime and stood trial before the Additional District & Sessions Judge, Ernakulam, designated for cases involving atrocities and sexual violence against women and children, in S.C. No. 408/2019. He faced prosecution for offences punishable under Ss. 450, 326A, and 307 of the Indian Penal Code.

(3.) The learned Sessions Judge found the accused guilty for the offences punishable under Ss. 326A and 450 of IPC. The accused was convicted and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs.1,00,000.00 for the offence under Sec. 326A IPC with a default sentence to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year. The accused was further sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for five years and to pay a fine of Rs.25,000.00 for the offence under Sec. 450 IPC with a default sentence to undergo rigorous imprisonment for six months. But he was found not guilty of the offence punishable under Sec. 307 IPC and thereby acquitted. Prosecution Case: