MEGHSHYAM RAMDAS PARANTE Vs. STATE OF GUJARAT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE appellant herein, original accused, is a convict in respect of the offences punishable u/s.498A and 302 of the Indian Penal Code (for short, "the IPC") recorded by the learned Addl. Sessions Judge, City Civil and Sessions Court (Fast Track Court No.1), Ahmedabad in Sessions Case No.247 of 2005. On conviction, the appellant was ordered to suffer life imprisonment along with other sentence, which were ordered to run concurrently.

(2.) AS per the prosecution case, the deceased, who was married with the appellant since about 2 1/2 years, was alleged to have been harassed and beaten up by the appellant with repeated demands of dowry. On 10.10.2003 the deceased was allegedly set ablaze by the appellant and was, thereafter, locked inside the room and left the house.

(3.) THE prosecution has mainly relied upon the evidence of the complainant, Trambakrao Gopalrao, who has been examined as PW4 at Exhibit9. He is the father of the deceased, who, amongst other facts, claims the deceased of having made a dying declaration before him to the effect that while she was present at her residence between 01.30 pm to 01.45 pm, the appellant shut the door of the house from inside and tied up both her hands. Thereafter, he thrust a gag into her mouth, poured kerosene over her and set her ablaze. Thereafter, the appellant rushed out of the house, locked it from the outside and fled the place. Somehow, the deceased managed to remove the gag and during that period, Rajesh Hansraj Rajput (PW9), who is a neighbor, removed the lock and rushed inside the house. He sprinkled water on the deceased and thereafter, helped her to the Hospital.