AVULA SAI RAM YADAV Vs. STATE OF TELANGANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant/A1 filed the appeal questioning the conviction and sentence recorded by the Special Judge for Trial of offences under SCs and STs (PoA) Act, in Spl.S.C.No.7 of 2015, dtd. 4/10/2018, for the offence under Sec. 306 of the Indian Penal Code.

(2.) Heard Sri Ravi Kiran, learned Senior Counsel on behalf of Sri V.Rohith, learned counsel for the appellant and learned Public Prosecutor for the respondent State.

(3.) Briefly, the case of the prosecution is that the deceased belonged to the SC-Mala Community, while A1 to A4 and Girl Juvenile were from the Yadav community. A1, a classmate of the deceased, was in a romantic relationship with her for the past seven years and had promised to marry her. However, A2 to A4 and Girl Juvenile who are father, mother and sisters of A1, respectively, opposed the marriage due to her caste and allegedly conspired to eliminate her. On 10/2/2014, A1 contacted the deceased, asking her to visit his house with 1/2 litre of petrol, claiming they would go out together. Believing A1, the deceased went to his residence in Gemini Colony, but, A1 was not present. A2, A3 (parents of A1), A4 and Girl Juvenile (sisters of A1) were present and allegedly abused and insulted the deceased in filthy language. The deceased stepped out and stood on the road. When A1 arrived, A1 to A3 allegedly snatched the petrol, poured it on her and set her ablaze. A4 and girl Juvenile reportedly continued to abuse the deceased verbally, as she was pressuring A1 to marry her. The deceased sustained burn injuries.