JUDGMENT

Prithviraj K. Chavan, J. - Dattaram H. Pandare, the appellant herein, has preferred this appeal against a judgment and order of conviction rendered by the Sessions Judge, Sindhudurg on 17th August, 2015 holding him guilty of the offence of murder and sentencing him to life imprisonment.

2. The facts in brief are as follows :-

3. Deceased Murgesh Gavandar was a resident of village Shirgaon. He was residing with his wife Bharati (since deceased and accused no.1) along with three children. PW-7 Aditya Murgesh Gavandar is the son of deceased Murgesh.

4. Sometime in the year 2010, deceased Murgesh was found missing from his residence. When his brother Shanmugam Gavandar inquired with his wife deceased Bharati, she informed that Murgesh had eloped with one lady after performing a marriage. On 12.04.2011 Bharati lodged a missing report with the Police Station, Deogad stating that her husband (deceased Murgesh) was missing w.e.f. 03.01.2010 from village Shirgaon. Bharati thereafter started living at Kankavali with her son and two daughters. However, she died due to accidental burns on 06.08.2012 (Exh.53).

5. PW-7 Aditya, thereafter started residing with his grandfather and uncle at Ran