Sanjay Karol, Judge

Appellant-convict Ravi Kumar, hereinafter referred to as the accused, has assailed the judgment dated 30.4.2013, passed by Additional Sessions Judge, Kangra at Dharamshala, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, in Sessions Case No.38-G/VII/12, titled as State v. Ravi Kumar, whereby he stands convicted of the offence punishable under the provisions of Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and pay a fine of Rs.10,000/- and in default thereof to further undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of one year.

2. It is the case of prosecution that complainant Ramesh Chand (PW-7) was living with his wife Nisha Devi (deceased) and two children in village Bari. Accused Ravi Kumar, nephew of Ramesh Chand, who had an evil eye on Nisha Devi, went to the jungle with her on 21.12.2011. On 22.12.2011, when Nisha Devi went to the jungle, commonly known as Ridian wala Jungle, he followed and murdered her. Not finding his wife at home, Ramesh Chand was informed that she had gone to the jungle for fetching fuel wood. When she did not return till late evening, villagers constituted two search parties, one of which was headed by t