JUDGMENT

S.B. Majmudar, J.-This is an unfortunate case which a young bride named Krishna Kumari lost her life on the alter of dowry demands on the morning of 12th April, 1977 in the household of present appellants who were charged with the offence of murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (in brief IPC ). The Trial Court acquitted them. The respondent-State s appeal against acquittal was allowed by the High Court and the appellants were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC and were sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life. Appellant Nos.1 and 2 were further sentenced to pay a fine of Rs.3,000/- each and in default, to suffer further rigorous imprisonment for two years each. Fine, if realised, was ordered to be paid to Wasanda Ram Taneja, P.W.23, father of the deceased Krishna Kumari and that is how the appellant-Accused are before us in the statutory appeal invoking Section 2 of the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appeal Jurisdiction) Act, 1970.

2. As the acquittal of the appellants is reversed by the High Court in appeal and they have been sentenced to imprisonment for life we have carefully gone through the entire evi