JUDGMENT

Faizan Uddin, J. - This Criminal Appeal under Section 2 A of the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Act, 1970 has been directed against the reversing judgment of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh passed in Criminal Appeal No. 324/1985 setting aside the order of acquittal of the appellant dated 31.10.1984 for an offence under Section 302 of the I.P.C., recorded by the Session Judge, East Godawari Division at Rajahmundry in Session Case No. 50/1984. By the said judgment the High Court convicted the appellant under Section 302 of the Penal Code and sentenced him to undergo life imprisonment.

2. The prosecution case was that the deceased girl Seelam Nageswari aged about 16 years was residing with her parents in the eastern portion of the house situated in Kondawari Lane belonging to Smt. Mathineni Guramma, the mother-in-law of the accused appellant. The said portion of the house was obtained by the parents of the deceased girl on a monthly, rent of Rs. 120/- about four months prior to the occurrence, and the land lady was demanding higher rent at the rate of Rs. 150/- per month. It is said that in the morning of 4.2.1984 Smt. Seelam Narasayamma, P.W. 1