RANGANATHAN Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE accused in S. C. No. 32 of 1996 on the file of the Principal Sessions Judge, Tiruvannamalai, who was convicted for an offence under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo life imprisonment, appeals against his conviction and sentence. The allegation against him is that on 21. 1. 1994 at 5 PM, he picked up a quarrel with his wife Parimala with intention to cause death, poured kerosene on her and threw a lighted match stick resulting in her death subsequently in the hospital.

(2.) THE brief facts required to dispose of the appeal are as follows : the deceased belonged to Vilanallur village. PW1 is her father. She was married to the accused. They had a child. The accused is the sister's son of PW1. Some time prior to the occurrence, on one Friday, the deceased went to the house of her father - PW1 and gave a dhothi, which was freely given to the accused in connection with Pongal festival. The accused picked up a quarrel with his wife Parimala, since she gave the dhothi to her father - PW1 without the knowledge of the accused. On the same day, the accused went to the house of PW1, beat his wife and took her back home.

(3.) ON 21. 1. 1994 at 5 PM, the accused picked up a quarrel with the deceased, beat her on her back with a brick and also beat her with broom stick. Thereafter, saying that he would kill her, picked up a can with kerosene, poured kerosene on her and then set her ablaze. Immediately after the commission of the offence, the accused came out of the house and the deceased also came running with flames. The neighbours put down the flames and thereafter, the accused also tried to put down the flames. The deceased was taken to Cheyyar Government Hospital by her husband the accused.