VASANT BUDHA SHEDMAKE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE appellant/accused challenges the order of conviction for the offence punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentence to suffer imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs. 500/- in default of the payment of fine to suffer R. I. for three months passed by the Additional sessions Judge, Chandrapur in Sessions Case No. 63/95.

(2.) BRIEFLY stated the facts are as under: deceased Jamunabai was married to the accused and out of about 17 to 18 years of the wedlock they had three children. They were residing at ghantachowki with their family. The accused was allegedly addict to drinking liquor. The accused often used to make demand of money from his wife deceased Jamunabai who used to earn by doing labour work. There used to be quarrel between the two on this issue.

(3.) ON 15. 1. 1995 at about 10. 00 a. m. , the accused came home under the influence of liquor. At that time, deceased Jamunabai alone was in the house. The children were playing outside. The accused told deceased Jamunabai that she was going for work but was not giving account of money she earns and threatened to kill her. Having said so, the accused poured kerosene on her person and set her on fire by striking match stick. The accused thereafter ran away. Deceased Jamunabai raised shouts, hearing which her elder son Navnalh (P. W. 2) rushed home and tried to extinguish the fire by pouring water on her person. By that time, her parents, paternal uncle and other villagers gathered there and they got her admitted to the General Hospital at Chandrapur at about 1 to 1. 30 p. m.