JUDGMENT

Brijesh Kumar, J.-The criminal appeals mentioned above arise out of the judgment and order passed by the High Court of Maharashtra in Criminal Appeal No. 49 of 1995, upholding the conviction of the appellants under Section 302 read with section 34 IPC and the sentence of imprisonment for life thereunder and a fine of Rs.100/- each, in default of payment whereof, further rigorous imprisonment for a period of one month, we have before us in all four appellants since Laxmibai has not preferred any appeal against her conviction and the sixth accused who was also charge-sheeted namely, Ramesh continues to be absconding.

2. Appellants Dhanraj, Subhash and Sukhdeo are brothers being sons of Kisana Raut. The absconding accused Ramesh is younger brother of Kisana Raut. The appellant Venubai is mother of Kisana and Ramesh. Laxmibai is wife of Kisana. The deceased Sindhubai was the wife of absconding accused Ramesh.

3. The prosecution story is that accused persons had not been happy with the deceased Sindhubai. She was the second wife of Ramesh. They were married about three years prior to the incident but she did not bear any child to Ramesh. According to the statement of the dece