Judgment

SHINGHAL, J. - This is an appeal by special leave of Rau Chima Chougule who was convicted of an offence under Section 302, I.P.C. on two counts for murdering his daughter Vijaya and his son-in-law Shivaji Ananda Dalvi. The Sessions Judge sentenced the appellant to death. His conviction has been upheld and the sentence of death has been confirmed by the judgment of the Bombay High Court dated July 20/21, 1976.

2. Appellant Rau Chima Chougule used to reside in Kolhapur, where he was working as a skilled labourer. His eldest daughter Vatsala alias Kalpana (D. W. 1) was married to Dhondiram (P. W. 9) some 6 years before the incident, and used to live near his house. The appellants wife died nearly four years before the incident. He used to reside in a one room tenement along with his second daughter Vijaya (deceased) aged about 18-20 years, his third daughter Sanjivani (P. W. 2) aged about 14 years and his fourth daughter Sunita (P. W. 6) aged about 10 years. Shivaji Ananda Dalvi (deceased) belonged to village Bambarde of Kolhapur district, and used to work under the aforesaid Dhondiram as a tea vender. For about a month before the incident which has given rise to the present ap