POOMALAI Vs. THE STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The conviction and sentence dated 06.08.2007 passed, in Sessions Case No.432 of 2006, by the District and Sessions Judge (Mahila Court), Cuddalore, are being challenged in the present Criminal Appeal.

(2.) The case of the prosecution is that the accused is the husband of the deceased, by name, Suseela. After marriage both of them have lived as husband and wife happily for a short span of one year and subsequently, the accused has used to demand money from the deceased for taking brandy and also for his lavish expenditure. On 14.6.2006, the accused has demanded the same thing from the deceased and due to that, she has gone to her parents house and on 19.6.2006, at about 5.00 p.m. she doused kerosene and set fire on her and due to burn injuries, she passed away. After occurrence, the father of the deceased, as defacto complainant, has given a complaint and the same has been registered in Crime No.98 of 2006. The complaint given by the defacto complainant has been marked as Ex.P1.

(3.) On receipt of Ex.P1, the investigating officer, viz., P.W.12, has taken up investigation, examined connected witnesses and also made arrangements for conducting autopsy on the body of the deceased and accordingly Dr.Mageswari (P.W.11) has conducted autopsy and she found the following external and internal injuries: