JUDGMENT

K. Ramaswamy, J. - This appeal is under section 2 of Supreme Court Enlargement of Criminal Jurisdiction Act, 1970. The appellant along with his parents, sister, maternal uncle and uncle's daughter were charged for the offence under section 302 read with section 34 and sections 201 & 203 read with section 34 I.P.C. of the murder of his wife Kanchana. In S.T. No. 125/84, the Addl. Sessions Judge, Akola by judgment dated February 10, 1987 acquitted all of them. On appeal, the appellant alone was convicted under section 302 and section 201 I.P.C. and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life and three years respectively by judgment dated October 30, 1991 of the High Court of Bombay, Nagpur Bench, Nagpur.

2. The material facts that lie in short compass are thus:

Kanchana was married to the appellant in the year 1975. In course of time the appellant's father became rich, while her parents family remained poor leading to Constant humiliation. The sister of Kanchana, Vanmala, P.W. 5, was also married in the same village, Mangrulpir. On September 3, 1983, P.W. 5 went to the deceased family at about 10.00 to 10.15 a.m. and invited the mother-in-law of the deceased and Kanc