( 1 ) THE appellant has been convicted under section 302, I. P. C. for committing murder of his wife Mira by strangulation and has been sentenced to imprisonment for life.

( 2 ) THE prosecution case is that deceased Mira was the married wife of the appellant and they were living together along with the parents of the appellant in village Harri, police station Bijon, district Shahdol Urmila (P. W. 6), minor sister of the deceased was also living with them. According to her, there used to be frequent quarrel between the husband and wife and the appellant used to beat and ill-treat her. On 8/12/1981 at about 12 in the noon, the appellant informed Rameshwar Prasad (P. W. 1) that his wife has committed suicide by hanging. When they came to the spot, they found the house closed from inside and getting no response, the appellant climbed the roof by ladder and then opened the door. It was found that the deceased was hanging from the roof with a rope tied round her neck: and her feet were touching the floor. Rameshwar then went and gave marg intimation Ex. p. i at 3. 30 p. m. in Ramnagar police-chowki, 15 kms. away. A. S. I. Damodar prasad (P. W. 20) reached the spot and prepa