SANKARAN, S/O PULAYAN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal has been preferred by the appellant challenging the verdict passed by the Additional Sessions Judge I, Kalpetta in S.C. No. 204 of 2014 by which the appellant is found guilty for the offence under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ( for short, 'IPC') and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and also to pay a fine of Rs. 25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) in default of which to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year for the said offence.

(2.) The prosecution case is that the appellant owing to his doubt about the chastity of his wife Bindu, on 20/08/2012, at about 1.00 a.m., poured kerosene on her body and set her ablaze due to which she sustained 78% burn injuries and she succumbed to her injuries on 24/08/2012 in the hospital.

(3.) Prosecution examined PWs 1 to 16 as witnesses, documents Exts. P1 to P18 were marked and MO1 to MO3 were identified. In the 313 Cr.P.C. examination, the appellant denied the prosecution case and pleaded innocence. Defence had not adduced any evidence.