JUDGMENT

K. RAMASWAMY, J.- This appeal is under Section 2 of Supreme Court Enlargement of Criminal Jurisdiction Act, 1970. The appellant along with his parents, sister, maternal uncle and uncles daughter were charged for the offence under Section 302 read with Section 34 and Sections 201 & 203 read with Section 34 IPC of the murder of his wife Kanchana. In S.T. No. 125 of 1984, the Additional Sessions Judge, Akola by judgment dated February 10, 1987 acquitted all of them. On appeal, the appellant alone was convicted under Section 302 and Section 201 IPC and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life and three years respectively by judgment dated October 30, 1991 of the High Court of Bombay, Nagpur Bench, Nagpur.

2. The material facts that lie in short compass are thus:

Kanchana was married to the appellant in the year 1975. In course of time the appellants father became rich, while her parentss family remained poor leading to constant humiliation. The sister of Kanchana, Vanmala, PW 5, was also married in the same village, Mangrulpir. On September 3, 1983, PW 5 went to the deceased family at about 10.00 to 10.15 a.m. and invited the mother-in-law of the deceased and Kanchana