NINGAPPA DHANAPPA NAIKWADI Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Feeling aggrieved with and dissatisfied by the impugned judgment and order dated 10th August, 2015 rendered by the Additional Sessions Judge, Solapur in Sessions Case No.311 of 2013 holding the appellant guilty of the offence punishable under sections 498-A and 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short 'I.P.C '), the present appeal has been preferred amongst following facts and grounds.

(2.) Deceased Laxmi was married with the appellant about four to five years before the incident and the couple was co-habiting in a rented room at Lodhi Galli, Solapur. The prosecution case is that the appellant was addicted to liquor who used to ill-treat and beat his wife regularly under the influence of liquor. Laxmi delivered a girl child in the month of January, 2012. P.W.2- Kasturi Mane is the mother of Laxmi who had borrowed Rs.10,000/- from the master of the appellant for the delivery expenses of Laxmi. The appellant was demanding the said amount and, therefore, was insisting upon his wife to bring back Rs.10,000/- from her mother. Laxmi was continuously being harassed and ill-treated by the appellant on that count.

(3.) On the fateful day of 23rd June, 2013 around 1.30 p.m, the appellant picked up quarrel with Laxmi for the same reason and started assaulting her. He poured kerosene on the person of Laxmi from a stove and set her ablaze with a match stick. Due to her shouts, neighbours gathered and doused the flames. Laxmi was admitted to Civil Hospital, Solapur.