ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.

( 1 ) CHALLENGE in this appeal is to the judgment of a learned Single Judge of the andhra Pradesh High Court upholding the conviction of the appellant for offences punishable under Sections 304b and 498a of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short the 'ipc' ). Sentence of seven years was imposed on each count. By the impugned judgment conviction recorded in respect of co-accused laxmi was set aside and she was directed to by acquitted.

( 2 ) BACKGROUND facts as projected by prosecution in a nutshell are as follows: padma @ Pitchamma (hereinafter referred to as the 'deceased') was married to accused No. 1-Srinivasulu on 21. 5. 1989. At the time of marriage, PW. 1 father of the deceased gave rupees 10,000 in cash, five tolas of gold, other household articles worth rs. 3000 and Rs. 1200 towards clothes to accused No. 1, who was employed as sub-staff of Karnataka Bank, Secunderabad. Accused No. 2 is the mother of accused No. 1 and she used to visit accused No. 1 in the city and did not allow the deceased to fulfil conjugal obligations. At the instigation of accused No. 2, accused No. 1 had demanded Rs. 5,000 more from the parents of the deceased to purchase a Scooter