JUDGMENT :

C. PRAVEEN KUMAR, J.

1. Sole accused in Sessions Case No. 123 of 2013 on the file of Additional Sessions Judge, Hindupur, is the appellant herein. He was tried for offences punishable under Sections 498A and 302 of Indian Penal Code (I.P.C.). By its Judgment, dated 20.04.2015, the learned Sessions Judge convicted the accused under both the counts and sentenced him to suffer imprisonment for life and to pay fine of Rs. 2,000/- in default to undergo simple imprisonment for six months for the offence punishable under Section 302 I.P.C. He was further sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of two years and to pay fine of Rs. 1,000/- in default to undergo simple imprisonment for three months for the offence punishable under Section 498-A I.P.C. The substantive sentences were directed to run concurrently.

2. The gravamen of the charge against the accused is that, the accused being the husband of Bhagya Lakshmi (Deceased), used to harass her and on 20.12.2012 caused her death by pouring kerosene and setting her on fire.

3. The facts, as uncovered from the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, are as under:

(i) PW-1 is the father, while PW-2 is the brother, of the d