Radhakrishnan, J.

Calumny at times assumes dangerous proportions which can even cost the life of a person, a story which unfolds in this case. Accused, Thomas Varkey @ Mundackal Monachan and the deceased, Sebastian @ Sybichan, were labourers engaged in the construction of the house of Manjulankal Mary (PW.6) along with several others. House warming ceremony of the house was conducted on 14.05.1997. Deceased Sybichan did not participate in the house warming ceremony. On the afternoon of 18.05.1997 deceased met P.W.6 and questioned her whether she had abused him for not attending the house warming ceremony. P.W.6 answered in the negative but enquired about the source of that tell-tale story that she had abused the deceased. Disclosing that it was the accused who had informed him, he left the house of P.W.6 telling her that he would get down the accused there.

2. The manual labourers of the locality, P.Ws. 12, 13 and 15, had assembled in the house of P.W.12. Rosamma for chatting. P.W.13 is the next door neighbour of P.W.12. While they were having their assembly in the residence of P.W.12, the accused came over there with a bundle of firewood collected from the forest and he