As per Hon'ble Shri Radhe Shyam Sharma, J. :-

1. This appeal is directed against the judgment dated 26-6-1997 passed by Session Judge, Raipur in Session Trial No.392/1996. By the impugned judgment, accused/appellant Shekh Ram Yadav has been convicted under Section 302 IPC and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life.

2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is as under :

There was an illicit relationship between the appellant and deceased Fuleshwaribai, due to which, husband of the deceased had deserted her. The deceased, thereafter, was residing along with her children in a house outside the village. The appellant used to visit her there. He had started quarreling and committing Marpeet with her prior to the fateful day, i.e., 18-5-1996. In the night of the fateful day, Tejram (PW-16), son of the deceased, had gone out of the house on his duty, her elder daughter had slept in the house of neighbourer Sadhana (PW-4), her younger daughter Suruchi (PW-14) had gone to Village Bade Munari and she (the deceased) was all alone at the house. At about 1 O'clock in that night, the appellant poured kerosene on the deceased and set her on fire with match-stick. Thereafter, the appellant s