(1.) This appeal is directed against the judgment dated 11-3-1993 rendered by the Sessions Judge, Karimnagar in SC No.146 of 1992 tinder which the appellant has been convicted for the offence under Section 304-B, 498-A and 306 of Indian Penal Code and was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years and to pay a fine of Rs.100.00 in default to suffer simple imprisonment for one month for the offence under Section 304-B of IPC; to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three years and to pay a fine of Rs. 100.00in default of undergo simple imprisonment for one month for the offence under Section 498-A of IPC; and rigorous imprisonment for three years and to pay a fine of Rs.100.00 in default to undergo simple imprisonment for one month for the offence under Section 306 of IPC.
(2.) The facts relating to this appeal may be stated briefly as follows: The deceased Veeramma was married to the accused about three years prior to her death which occurred on 26-2-1991. The deceased had a son by name Santosh who is the second deceased in this case. For about one year prior to her death, the accused was ill-treating the deceased wife-Veeramma to extract more dowry. PW1, Gade Veeraiah, at the suggestion of PW2-Pasida Sankaraiah gave his daughter Veeramma (deceased No. 1) in marriage to the accused. The marriage was accordingly performed about four years back. At the lime of marriage, a sum of Rs.10,000.00 was paid towards dowry. The deceased joined the accused and they were blessed with son by name Santosh (deceased No.2) after about one year of the marriage. The deceased (sic accused) was resident of Kummarikunta village but at the time of marriage he was living at Kisansagar for the last seven years prior to marriage as he came down there after quarreling with his parents. He was living as a tenant in the house of Lachamma (PW6). At the time of marriage, the mother of the accused promised to take back the accused to their house in Kummarikunta and settle him in cultivation as the family possessed four acres of wet land and four acres of dry land. But, the accused continued to live at Kisansagar and do coolie work. When questioned as to why he was not going to his native village and attend to cultivation, the accused took the land of one Akula Mallareddy in Bommakal village on lease and started to cultivate the same.
(3.) After about an year after marriage, the accused started to demand Rs.5,000.00more as dowry and he requested PW2 who is the husband of the second daughter of PW1 Kamala (PW3), PW2 pleaded his inability to pursuade PW1 to pay the amount which the accused said was for meeting cultivation expenses. As the amount was not paid. A] was harassing his wife (deceased) to bring Rs.5,000.00 from her father. The deceased Veeramma had been informing PWs. l to 3 about the conduct of the accused.