SURESH VISHWANATH JADHAV Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant was tried by the Additional Sessions Judge, Pune on a charge of having committed murder of his wife by pouring kerosene and setting her ablaze and also for having treated her with cruelty. The learned Additional Sessions Judge, found the appellant guilty on both the counts and convicted him for committing offence punishable under sections 498-A and 302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to suffer rigorous imprisonment for life and fine of Rs. 500/- in default to suffer R. I. for one month for the offence punishable under section 302 of the indian Penal Code. The trial Court did not impose any separate sentence for the offence punishable under section 498-A of the indian Penal Code. The appellant has therefore, preferred this appeal to challenge his conviction and sentence.

(2.) In a nutshell, it is the prosecution's case that the deceased Sangita was married to the appellant serving as a Police constable in the year 1990-91. After the marriage, the deceased went for cohabitation to the house of the appellant accused at Vadgaon, Maval. Out of the wedlock, a girl child was born and till then there was no problem in so far as the matrimonial life of the couple was concerned.

(3.) According to the prosecution, the appellant accused thereafter, started ill-treating his wife i. e. deceased Sangita and used to beat her on small mistakes. The deceased sangita complained to her parents namely her mother Vastala Laxman Ingale, P. W. No. 4 about the ill-treatment suffered by her at the hands of the accused. She was given an understanding and asked to adjust herself. Sangita was a graduate having obtained b. Com. degree and was trying to secure ajob.