JUDGMENT

Dr. ANAND, J.:—The curse of dowry has claimed yet another victim, Kundula Bala Subrahmanyam, the husband of the deceased Kundula Kiti Nagbani and his mother Kundula Annapurna (Mother-in-law of the deceased) have filed this appeal under Section 2(a) of the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Act, 1970 against the judgment of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, dated 25-6-1985. setting aside the judgment of acquittal passed by the Sessions Judge, East Godavari Division and convicting both the appellants for an offence under Section 302/34 IPC and sentencing each of them to suffer imprisonment for life.

2. On 23rd of August, 1981, between 12.30 - 1.00 p.m. on hearing screams and cry of deceased-Kundula Koti Nagbani, at that time aged about 18 years, Pulapa Lakshmi PW 2, Vempati Paparao PW 3 and Vempati Radha PW 4. rushed to the house of the appellant and found both the appellants along with the father of appellant No. 1 (father-in-law of the deceased) hurriedly coming out of the kitchen while the deceased was lying on the floor engulfed in flames. Since, the appellants or the father-in-law of the deceased were making no attempts to put off t