1. This appeal is directed against the judgment dated 31.1.2002 passed by Sri Amaresh Kumar Lal, 6th Addl. Sessions Judge, Chapra in S.Tr. No. 312/99 by which he has convicted the appellant u/s. 304B and 201 Indian Penal Code, 1860 and has sentenced him to undergo imprisonment for 14 years for offence under Section 304B Indian Penal Code, 1860 and 3 years for the offence u/s. 201 Indian Penal Code, 1860 with a direction that the sentences would run concurrently.

2. The prosecution case, in brief, is that Kanchan Kumari, the daughter of the informant, was married to the appellant Satyendra Kumar Gupta on 2.7.1997. Co-accused Baijnath Sah, the maternal grand father of the appellant had adopted the appellant as his son. So, after marriage the girl went to the house of accused Baijnath Sah at village Repura and started living there. On 20.7.1997 the maternal uncle of the informant came and informed them that on 15.7.1997 Kanchan Kumari was pushed down in river from Katasa bridge as a result of which she was drowned and died. On this, the informant, his son Raja Ram Prasad, went to the house of accused Baijnath Sah, when the accused informed them that the appellant had taken his