JUDGMENT :

CHANDRA SHEKHAR JHA, J.

1. The present appeal is preferred challenging the judgment dated 22.08.2022 and order of sentence dated 26.08.2022 passed by the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge-III, Gaya in Sessions Trial No. 4 of 2020 arising out of Belaganj P.S. Case No. 292 of 2019 convicting the appellant under Section 302 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code (for short ‘IPC’), where appellant/convict was sentenced for life imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs. 5,000/- and in default, to undergo further imprisonment of one year.

2. The factual matrix of this case, as it springs from the written report of informant (PW-1), Safina Khatoon that marriage of her daughter Soni Khatoon (deceased) was solemnized with Guddu Shah (appellant/convict), S/o Khalil Sah of village-Laxmipur, P.S. Belaganj, District-Gaya before nine years as of now as per Muslim Customary Rites and Rituals. It is alleged thereof that appellant/convict, who is the husband of deceased along with other family members, i.e. father-in-law, namely, Khalil Shah, mother-in-law, namely, Maimun Khatoon, brother-in-law, namely, Saddam Shah and sister-in-law, namely, Juhi Khatoon collectively tortured her d