JUDGMENT

Chittaranjan Dash, J.

The Appellant, namely Sidheswar Pradhan faced the trial on the charges under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (in short, hereinafter referred to 'IPC') before the learned Ad-hoc Addl. Session Judge, Fast Track Court, Phulbani for committing murder of his wife the deceased (hereinafter referred as 'the deceased') by setting her on fire by pouring kerosene over her body wherein, the learned court found him guilty in the offence charged as above, convicted and sentenced the Appellant to undergo Rigorous Imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs. 5000/- (Rupees five thousand), in default to undergo further Rigorous Imprisonment for six months.

2. The prosecution case, in brief, is that a written report was lodged with the Officer-in-Charge of Sarangada Police Station by Raji Pradhan, the father of the deceased, on February 26, 2009, at 4:30 p.m. The report alleged that the deceased had married the Appellant approximately five years' prior, according to the customs of their community. While they initially lived together peacefully, marital discord eventually arose. On February 26, 2009, Raji Pradhan received information from one Sukanta Pradhan, his g