DEVI AND ORS. Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The conviction and sentence dated 14th day of August 2007 passed in S.C. No. 62 of 2007 by the District and Sessions/Mahila Court, Cuddalore are being challenged in the present criminal appeal.

(2.) The case of the prosecution is that the accused Nos. 1 and 2 and deceased Santhi are neighbours/relatives. With regard to an immoveable property a tussle has been in existence between the families of the accused and deceased. On 04 -11 -2006, at about 16:30 hours both the accused have hurled invectives against the deceased by way of touching her modesty and due to their overt acts, the deceased has doused kerosene and set fire on her and subsequently, on 08 -11 -2006, she passed away. On 09 -11 -2006, the father of the deceased has given a complaint and the same has been registered in Crime No. 99 of 2006. The complaint alleged to have been given by the father of the deceased has been marked as Ex -P1.

(3.) On receipt of Ex -P1, the Investigating Officer has taken up investigation, examined connected witnesses and also made arrangements to conduct autopsy on the body of the deceased and accordingly, P.W.10, Dr. Ambrose has conducted post -mortem and he found the following external and internal injuries: