BABAN SOPAN JITETHOR Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By this Appeal the appellant challenges a judgment and order of conviction rendered by the Additional Sessions Judge, Nashik in Session Case No.281 of 2013 on 31 st January, 2018, by which he has been convicted of the offence punishable under Sec. 302 of the Indian Penal Code (for short "IPC") and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life with fine of Rs.1,000.00.

(2.) The prosecution story goes like this:

(3.) On 30/3/2013, around 6:00 p.m. her mother-in-law and husband Dhanraj were out of the house near the water tap connection. The victim was emptying water pots in the kitchen. At that time, the appellant entered from backside door and poured kerosene on her person from a plastic can. Since it was a festival of Rangpanchami /Dhulivandan, victim thought that somebody might have thrown colour, however, before she could realize anything, the appellant lit a matchstick and set her ablaze. She screamed and shouted loudly while coming out of the house. Her husband Dhanraj and mother-in-law tried to douse the fire. She was, subsequently, admitted in the hospital.