KONGARI RAVINDER REDDY Vs. STATE OF A P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant, Kongari Ravinder Reddy, has challenged the legality of the judgment dated 10.03.2011, in Sessions Case No.140 of 2008, passed by the learned Special Judge for Trial of Offences under SC/ST (POA) Act-cum-V Additional District & Sessions Judge, Medak at Sangareddy, whereby the learned Judge has convicted him for offence under Section 302 I.P.C, and sentenced him to life imprisonment, imposed a fine of Rs.2,000/-, and directed him to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of two months in default thereof. However, the learned Judge has acquitted the appellant for offence under Section 498-A I.P.C. Hence, this appeal before this Court.

(2.) Briefly the facts of the case are that G.Sangareddy (P.W.1) submitted a written complaint (Ex.P.1) before the Sub-Inspector of Police, Sadasivpet Police Station, wherein he claims that he married off his daughter with the appellant. The appellant used to harass his daughter and forced to bring money from her parents. Three months back, his daughter came to his house, and disclosed about the unbearable harassment by the appellant. He persuaded her to go back to her matrimonial home. According to him, the appellant used to consume alcohol every day. On 26.01.2008 at about 10:30 P.M, the appellant poured kerosene on his daughter and set her ablaze.

(3.) His granddaughter, Chitti (P.W.2), witnessed the incident and informed the same. He enquired from the neighbours especially P. Hanumanthu (P.W.6), who informed him that since they smelt kerosene, they opened the door of the appellant s house and found his daughter in flames. They tried to rescue his daughter with blankets. On the basis of the said complaint (Ex.P.1), a formal F.I.R, namely F.I.R.No.23 of 2008 (Ex.P.11), was registered for offences under Section 302 and Section 498-A I.P.C, as the victim died in the same night.