(1.) THE appellant has been convicted and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (for short 'the I.P.C.') by the learned 1st Additional Sessions Judge, Berhampur in Sessions Case No.3 of 2000/Sessions Case No.51 of 2000 GDC for having committed murder of his wife deceased Manjula Sahu. Appellant also has been convicted under Section 498 -A of the I.P.C., but no separate sentence has been imposed thereunder.
(2.) MARRIAGE between appellant and deceased was solemnized on 25.2.1994. Informant P.W.14 is deceased's brother. P.W.10 is deceased's sister's husband, P.W. 12 is deceased's elder mother. P.W.15 is deceased's maternal uncle's son. Appellant and deceased had a son. Occurrence took place in the night of 9/10.9.1999.
(3.) APPELLANT took the plea of denial. In course of his examination under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C. the appellant stated that when he was in the toilet, he heard the deceased's screaming. He came and found that the deceased was burning. When he made an attempt to save her, he also sustained burn injuries and became unconscious.