SANTHOSH Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Criminal Appeal has been filed by the sole Accused, challenging the Conviction and Sentence imposed upon him vide Judgment, dated 2/12/2021 in Spl.S.C. No.3 of 2020 on the file of the learned Principal Sessions Judge, Tiruppur.

(2.) (i) It is the case of the Prosecution that the Appellant and the deceased knew each other and they were in a romantic love relationship for about four years before the occurrence; that the deceased was studying in Arts College and belonged to Hindu, Mathari, a Scheduled Caste; that the Accused belonged to Hindu, Boyar, which falls under MBC category; that on 3/11/2019 at about 8.30 p.m., the deceased along with her mother, her uncle, sister and grandmother, were proceeding towards the house of the Appellant to request him to marry the deceased; that the Appellant came in the opposite direction and the deceased requested the Appellant to speak to her mother regarding the marriage; that the Appellant insulted and humiliated her by uttering her caste name in a Public place; that unable to bear the humiliation and insult, the deceased ran to her house and committed suicide at about 8.45 p.m. by pouring Kerosene and setting herself ablaze; and that she sustained grievous injuries and succumbed to the said injuries on 8/11/2019, in spite of treatment.

(3.) Since the Appellant was charged and convicted for the offence under the SC/ST Act, we directed the issuance of notice to the victim, and it is seen that the Notice sent to the PW1-Mother of the deceased has been served by the 1st Respondent on 13/10/2023. Though the name of PW1 is printed in the Cause List, there is no representation on her behalf.