Manish Pitale, J.

By this appeal, the appellant has challenged judgment and order dated 11-08-2003 passed by the Court of Ad hoc Additional Sessions Judge, Pusad (trial Court) in Sessions Trial No.45 of 1999, whereby he has been convicted for offences punishable under Sections 498A and 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and he has been sentenced to suffer simple imprisonment for three years and five years on the two counts, as also to pay fine of Rs. 1000/-on each count. The appellant was the husband of deceased. Along with him, his parents and sister were also arrayed as accused, but they were acquitted by the trial Court.

2. According to the prosecution case, the appellant and deceased Narmada got married on 17-05-1998 when dowry of Rs. 40,000/was paid along with utensils and clothes by the family of the deceased. As per the case of the prosecution, for the first four months of marriage, the said Narmada was treated properly by her husband i.e. the appellant herein and her inlaws but thereafter, they started demanding amount of Rs. 20,000/from her for the treatment of father of the appellant. The said Narmada had disclosed this fact to her mother and maternal uncle, as al