KUMBHAM ANJANEYULU Vs. STATE OF A P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal is filed against the Judgment of the learned VI Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Tract Court), Krishna at Machilipatnam in S.C.No. 381 of 2001. The sole accused was convicted for the offence under Section 302 IPC and sentenced to imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs. 200.00 in default to under go simple imprisonment for one year.

(2.) The prosecution case is that the accused loved the deceased, Nagalakshmi and married her, just one year prior to her homicidal death. After marriage they lived happily for six months. The accused was neither doing any job, nor was attending to family necessities and started harassing the deceased, by asking her to get rice and other provisions from her parents. P.W. 1 mother of the deceased used to help by supplying provisions etc. On 31-10-1999 at about 6.00 p.m. the accused beat the deceased, kicked her, poured kerosene and set fire on her, saying that if she is killed his problems would be solved. When the deceased raised cries neighbours rushed there. The deceased sustained extensive burn injuries. Grandmother of the deceased took her to the police station, where the deceased gave a statement before P.W. 12, the then SI of police, Pamarru. On the basis of the statement, he registered a case in Cr. No. 140 of 1999 under Section 498-A and 307 IPC. P.W. 12 arrested the accused on 9-11-1999. The deceased after undergoing treatment at University General Hospital, Vijayawada was discharged and on 10-3-2000 she died i.e., after five months of her receiving injuries. The post-mortem examination revealed that the deceased suffered 70% thermal burns and she died on account of that. The deceased might have died due to Hypoproteinomia, gross anemias, congesting cardiac failure and septicenic shock due to 70% thermal burns.

(3.) Charge under section 302 IPC was framed against the accused; but not under Section 304-B IPC. The plea of the accused was one of denial.