VODDE JAYARAMULU Vs. STATE OF A P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The sole accused in Sessions Case No.322 of 1995 which was decided by the learned Sessions Judge, Anantapur is the appellant herein. The accused-appellant was tried for an offence punishable under Section 498-A IPC. On evidence, the learned Judge found him not guilty, and therefore, he was acquitted of the said charge. The accused- appellant was further tried for an offence punishable under Section 302 IPC. The learned Judge found him guilty and sentenced him to suffer imprisonment for life and to pay fine of Rs.2,000/-, in default to suffer simple imprisonment for six months. Aggrieved by the said order of conviction and sentence, the present appeal has been filed by the accused-appellant.

(2.) The substance of the charge against the accused was that prior to 25-2-1994 the accused started harassing his wife Suseelama by beating and abusing her. On 25-2-1994 at about 6.00 p.m. in his own house in Jakkireddipalli Vilalge, the accused alleged to have poured kerosene on the person of his wife Suseelammma and set her on fire. The deceased died at about 4.50 p.m., on 1-3-1994 in the Government Hospital at Kalyandurg.

(3.) The prosecution story can briefly be narrated as follows: The marriage of the accused and the deceased was celebrated eight months prior to the date of incident. The accused was having an affair with one lady named Sakamma. The accused used to come home late and beat the deceased. On 25-2-1994 at about 6.00 p.m., the accused poured kerosene on the person of the deceased and set her on fire. The deceased came out of the house with flames and on seeing the flames, PW4 and one Sanjeevanna, brother of the accused extinguished the fire by pouring water on the deceased and then they took her to Government Hospital at Pavagada. PW1 happened to be the father of the deceased. He was informed by one V. Gangadhar about the incident. He was also informed that the deceased was admitted in Government Hospital at Pavagada and on getting the aforesaid information, PWs.l and 3 proceeded to Pavagada.