JUDGMENT :

JOHNSON JOHN, J.

1. The appellant, who is the first accused in S.C. No. 209 of 2001 of the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, Fast Track (Adhoc-II), Thiruvananthapuram, filed this appeal challenging the conviction and sentence imposed on him for the offence punishable under Section 498A IPC as per the judgment dated 16.11.2006.

2. The appellant/first accused was prosecuted along with his mother, the second accused, for the offence punishable under Section 304B r/w Section 34 IPC on the allegation that after the marriage of the first accused with the daughter of PW-8 on 21.05.1995 and while the daughter of PW-8 was residing in the matrimonial house along with accused persons, they subjected her to physical and mental cruelty demanding more dowry and unable to bear the cruelty, the daughter of PW-8 poured kerosene over her body and set fire to herself at 4.15 p.m. on 05.12.1998 and thereafter, while undergoing treatment in Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, she succumbed to her injuries at 6.50 a.m. on 8.12.1998 and the accused are thereby alleged to have committed the offence as aforesaid

3. Exhibit P1(a) FIR was registered under Section 174 Cr.P.C. o