GEETA BAI Vs. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) APPELLANT has preferred this appeal challenging her conviction and order of sentence passed by Additional Sessions judge, Sihora in S. T. No. 717/95, decided on 12. 10. 2001.

(2.) APPELLANT has been convicted under Section 498-A, of IPC and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for three years with fine of Rs. 3,000/-, in default further imprisonment for six months by the impugned judgment.

(3.) ACCORDING to prosecution, deceased Saroj Bai (hereinafter referred to as 'deceased') was married to Rajkumar of village Berne, P. S. Manjhgawan; appellant Geeta Bai is the mother-in-law of the deceased. Deceased Saroj Bai and her husband Rajkumar lived separately from the appellant in another room. Appellant Geeta Bai alongwith other co-accused persons used to quarrel with the deceased. On 11. 7. 95 about 9 'o'clock in the morning, appellant alongwith other co-accused persons quarrelling with the deceased, hurled abuses and instigated her to die by saying ";fn and vly cki dh gks rks ej tk" also ran to assault her. Thereafter, deceased Saroj went inside and poured kerosene oil over her body and set her ablaze. Her husband Rajkumar was not at home at the time of incident, when he came back he extinguished the fire. Deceased was rushed to the hospital, but she succumbed to her burn injuries on way to hospital. The intimation of her death was given to police Station Manjhgawan by Rajkumar, the husband of the deceased, whereupon merg intimation was recorded and merg inquest report was prepared. After merg inquiry, an offence was registered against the appellant and other co-accused persons. The dead body of the deceased was sent for postmortem examination. The half burnt clothes of the deceased, kerosene oil container and a matchbox were seized from the spot. The spot map was also drawn. After due investigation, appellant geeta Bai and other five co-accused persons were prosecuted under Section 498-A, 306, 34 of IPC and were put to trial.