MANJULABAI UTTAMRAO WAGHMARE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal is directed against the conviction and sentence awarded against the appellant by the Addl. Sessions Judge, Jalna in Sessions Case No. 113 of 1995 by his judgment and order dated-25-10-1999. The appellant was convicted for the offence punishable under Section302 of I. P. C. and sentenced to suffer life imprisonment.

(2.) Briefly stated the prosecution case is that the appellant was mother-in-law of deceased Sumitra. Prior to three years of the incident of death of deceased, she was married to son of the appellant. The deceased used to visit intermittently her parental home on some occasions. She was complaining to her parents that the appellant was ill-treating and harassing her. The incident took place on20th December, 1994. One Bhaguji Waghmare informed the father of deceased P. W.1 Shankar Sangule that they should come urgently to Jalna. P. W.1 Shankar reached Civil Hospital, Jalna where his daughter was admitted, as she had received burn injuries. On enquiry, the deceased disclosed to him that since morning the appellant was quarreling with her on account that she was not knowing cooking and household work. According to the deceased, the appellant abused her and stated that if she does not know work then she must die. It is alleged that the deceased, during the exchange of abuses, sprinkled kerosene on her person from a stove and soon thereafter, the appellant - mother-in-law of the deceased set her on fire by lighting a match stick. The deceased suffered 100% burn injuries. The alleged incident took place in the house of the appellant at about12 to 12. 30 p. m.

(3.) P. W.1 Shankar Sangule is father of deceased Sumitra. He stated that his daughter was harassed and ill-treated by the appellant. She used to complain about ill-treatment whenever she visited the house of her parents. On enquiry, his daughter disclosed to him in the Hospital that appellant set her on fire by lighting a match-stick.