MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, J.

1. This appeal is directed against impugned judgment of conviction and sentence dated 7-4-98 passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Sakti in Sessions Trial No. 128/07 whereby the appellants have been convicted and sentenced as described below :-

2. As per prosecution story, Navdha Bai was married to appellant-Ramayandas. For marriage of brother of Navdha Bai, a loan was taken from the appellants, which was not being repaid. Navdha Bai was being repeatedly subjected to harassment, cruelty and she was left behind in her parental house, pregnancy was aborted. The loan amount of Rs. 6,000/- was repaid with interest, total amounting to Rs. 9,075/- on 24-9-1996 in the presence of witnesses in Panchayat meeting. After three months, on 18-12-1996, Navdha Bai was found dead in the village well near her house. A merg intimation in Ex. P/16 was recorded on the information given by Bagwan Das. Police, after arriving at the scene of occurrence, gave notices to the witnesses and inquest over dead body was prepared and dead body was sent for post-mortem. Dr. D. D. Mishra (PW14) conducted post-mortem and prepared post-mortem report in Ex. P/14 wherein he st