RAMSHRI PAL Vs. STATE OF M P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Appellant Shrimati Ramshri Pal has filed this appeal challenging the judgment of conviction and sentence dated 28th May, 2001 delivered by the Court of Special Judge (NDPS) and Additional Sessions Judge, Gwalior in Sessions Trial No. 362/1999, whereby she has been convicted for the offences punishable under sections 498-A and 302 IPC and sentenced to undergo life imprisonment and fine of Rs.1,000/- and two years RI and fine of Rs.500/- respectively with default stipulations. Both the sentences were directed to run concurrently.

(2.) Present appellant along with acquitted co-accused Hema were tried for the offences punishable under sections 498-A, 304-B IPC, in the alternative 302 IPC, read with section 34 IPC for harassing one Manju Pal (hereinafter, referred to as the "deceased") for demand of dowry and committing her murder of on 4/5/1999 by pouring kerosene oil and setting her on fire.

(3.) Prosecution story as unfolded in the impugned judgment is that the deceased was the married wife of Rajesh (DW 1). She often complained about ill treatment by her in-laws on account of demand of dowry. On 4/5/1999 Ramsingh (PW 2) got information that the deceased was admitted in the Kamla Raja Hospital. When he went to the hospital and asked his daughter as to how she caught fire, the deceased told him that her mother-in-law (present appellant) and sister-in-law used to pick up quarrels with her on account of demand of dowry and she was set on fire by pouring kerosene on her body. Deceased died on 4/5/1999 in the evening.