SITARAM DATTU SHINDE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant challenges the judgment and order of 20th September, 2001 in Sessions Case No. 98 of 2000. The additional Sessions Judge, Sangli has convicted the appellant for the offence punishable under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

(2.) The prosecution case is that the appellant has killed his wife in the night of 2nd and 3rd April, 2000. He used an axe to inflict the fatal injuries on his wife. The body of the victim was discovered early next morning when a neighbour saw it lying in a pool of blood. The axe was seized at the instance of the appellant. The clothes of the appellant which were seized were stained with blood belonging to group 'b'. The victim's blood group also was 'b' and all her clothing and ornaments which she was wearing when she was assaulted were stained with blood of the same group. An extra judicial confession made by the accused is also relied on by the proseculion. Besides this, the son of the appellant and the victim who has been examined has deposed that his father, the appellant, was addicted to liquor. He had quarrelled with the victim during the previous night. The son has also stated that the appellant's addiction to liquor was a bone of contention between his parents.

(3.) With the assistance of the: learned Advocate appointed for the appellant and the learned Assistant Public: Prosecutor, we have scrutinised the entire evidence on record and the impugned judgment. We find that the learned trial court has considered all aspects of the matter and the evidence led before him to draw a proper inference that the appellant is guilty as charged.