P.N. Prakash, J.

1. This Criminal Appeal has been preferred by the accused assailing the judgment and order of conviction and sentence dated 19.07.2017 passed by the Principal Sessions Judge, Madurai in S.C.No.62 of 2014.

2. The facts leading to the filing of this criminal appeal are succinctly stated as under:

2.1 Meenakshi (D1) married the appellant/Thirupathi and they were blessed with two daughters, viz. Divya (P.W.6) and Karthika (P.W.7) and one son Dinesh (D2). The appellant suspected his wife’s fidelity and frequently quarrelled with her. The family was residing in Door No.2352, Housing Board Colony, Anupanadi West, Madurai. Meenakshi’s (D1’s) sister Karpagavalli (P.W.3) was residing in Door No.2318 in the same colony. The appellant’s parents were also residing nearby. The parents of Meenakshi (D1), viz. Perumal (P.W.1) and Kamakshi (P.W.2) were residing in Sayalkudi in Ramanathapuram District, which is about 200 kilometres away from Madurai.

2.2 Four days prior to Deepavali in 2011, Kamakshi (P.W.2), the mother of Meenakshi (D1), tried to speak to her daughter,