ANNAM VENKATESH Vs. STATE OF A.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Accused No.1 in Sessions Case No.44 of 2016 on the file of the Court of XIII Additional Sessions Judge, Narasaraopet, Guntur District, is the appellant in the present Criminal Appeal. He along with his mother i.e., Accused No.2 were tried by the learned Additional Sessions Judge under five (05) charges. The first charge was under Sec. 498-A IPC against Accused No.1, the second charge was under Sec. 304-B IPC against Accused No.1, the third charge was under Sec. 302 IPC against Accused No.1, the fourth charge was under Sec. 201 IPC against Accused No.1 and the last charge was under Sec. 201 IPC against Accused No.2.

(2.) Substance of the charge is that Accused No.1 used to harass his wife, by name Annam Koteswaramma @ Rupa (hereinafter referred to as the deceased), subjected her to cruelty, demanding her to bring additional dowry and on 24/9/2015 he caused her death by pressing her neck with force and by throttling her and to screen the evidence, he tied the body to a saree and hanged the body to a ceiling fan, thereby committed offences punishable under Ss. 498-A, 304-B, 302 and 201 IPC. After completion of trial, the learned Additional Sessions Judge while acquitting Accused No.2 for the charge levelled against her, convicted the Accused No.1 under Sec. 498-A IPC and sentenced him to suffer Rigorous Imprisonment for a period of two (02) years. The learned Additional Sessions Judge further convicted Accused No.1 under Sec. 302 IPC and sentenced him to suffer imprisonment for "LIFE" and also to pay a fine of Rs.1,000.00 in default, to suffer Simple Imprisonment for a period of three (03) months. The learned Additional Sessions Judge also convicted Accused No.1 under Sec. 304-B IPC of course, no separate sentence was awarded as he was sentenced to imprisonment for "LIFE" under Sec. 302 IPC. Both the substantive sentences were directed to run concurrently.

(3.) Heard Smt. J. Sreelakshmi, learned counsel for the appellant as well as Sri. Soora Venkata Sainath, learned Special Public Prosecutor.