RAHIBAI DHARMA GHODKE, NAGESH DHARMA GODKE, DHARMA SONBA GHODKE, SOU RAHIBAI DHARMA GHODKE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is again a case of physical, mental harassmment of the Wife ay the husband and in laws and further committing murder by pouring kerosene and setting her ablaze.

(2.) The appellant No. 1, husbands appellant No. 2 father-in-law, appellant No. 3 , mother-in-law are convicted by the Additional Sessions Judge, Pune for committing the. murder of wife/daughter-in-law, Anita, (deceased) , on the evening of 25/1/1998, at about 6.30 p. m. in their house, intentionally and knowingly causing her deat. by pouring kerosene on her person and setting her on fire. They were accordingly convicted and sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for life and to pay fine of Rs. 1000/-,in default to suffer rigorous imprisonment for one year and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for two years and to pay fine of rs. 1000/- each and in default to rigorous imprisonment for six months, under Section 302 r/w section 34 and under Section 498-A of Indian Penal Code respectively.

(3.) The deceased married with the appellant-accused nagesh, son of the appellant accused Nos. 2 and 3 on l6/2/l997/. The said arranged marriage was in relations. The deceased Anita's fathers Arjun Adsule, is the real brother of appellant No. 3 Rahibai. The deceased mas residing jointly with her husband and in-laws at kolewadi,pune. Her father Mas residing at Solapur. The deceased complained to her parents about the regular ill-treatment by the husband and in-laws. Therefore, the father of deceased requested his sister rahibai-accused No. 3 to treat the deceased Anita properly. He also requested his another sister Rukmini, who Mas residing in Fughewadi to persuade all the accused to treat Anita properly. As the father was worried about her well being and married life, hence, he shifted to Pune and started living at Fughewadi. The deceased, during the Sankrant festival, visited to her parents' house and again disclosed the ill-treatments at the hands of appellant-accused. On earlier occasions; at Solapur, at the time of Gudipadva and of Diwali, she had also complained about the ill-treatment. The deceased Anita even refused to go to husband s house.