Shaffique, J.

This appeal has been filed by the appellant against the judgment of conviction and order of sentence passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Ottappalam, in S.C. No. 747 of 2014 arising out of Crime No. 23 of 2013 of the Railway Police, Shoranur by which the appellant is sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay fine of Rs.1,000/- (Rupees One Thousand only) and in default to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three months under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, 'IPC'). He is further sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for five years and to pay a fine of Rs.1,000/- and in default to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three months under Section 316 of the IPC.

2. The prosecution case, in brief, is that the deceased Sundari was the wife of the appellant Murukesan. While she had been hospitalized at Erode in connection with some illness, the appellant sold their 8 months old son, without her knowledge. After discharge from the hospital, she enquired about the child intermittently. So, the accused developed an apprehension that his wife Sundari would inform this matter to her relatives and police. He therefore entertained an in