JUDGMENT

This appeal is preferred by all the three accused persons challenging the judgment convicting and sentencing them in S.C.No.15/2016 on the file of Mahila Court, Perambalur, for offences under Sec.306 IPC and sentencing all the accused persons 10 years rigorous imprisonment with penalty and default sentence if fine not paid.

2.1 A certain Nirmala was married to the first appellant. They both hailed from Peramabalur. While Nirmala was working as a Revenue Inspector at Perambalur, the first appellant was working as a Resident Teacher in one of the premier schools in Namakkal. For their separate residence, the couple had taken a property for lease at Perambalur. Appellants 2 and 3 are the mother-in-law and sister-in-law (first appellant's brother's wife) of Nirmala and they were leaving separately in another house close-by.

2.2 It is in this setting on 24.12.2014 at about 09.00 p.m., Nirmala self-

immolated her. Her father Raju (P.W.1) and her mother Jayalakshmi (P.W.6) was with her then. Immediately, P.W.1 removed her daughter with burn injuries to the Government Hospital, Perambalur. She was administered first-aid and was referred for better treatment to Government Hospital, Trichy. In between, the Medical Officer attached to Government Hospital, Perambalur, gave Ext.P9 request letter to the Judicial Magistrate, receiving which, the learned Magistrate has recorded Ext.P10 dying declaration of the victim. While so, she being shifted to the Government Hospital, Trichy, Nirmala breathed her last.

2.3 Shortly thereafter, P.W.1 preferred Ext.P1 complaint before Perambalur Police Station, wherein it was alleged that on 24.12.2014, P.W.1 along with his wife visited the matrimonial home of his daughter on the request of his son-in-law, that at around 9.00 p.m., there arose some disputes between the victim and the first appellant, and that her mother-in-law and co-sister joined him to pick up a quarrel with P.W.1 and his wife. In backdrop of these events, the victim emerged from her bedroom in a burnt state. Receiving Ext.P1, P.W.25, the Sub Inspector of Police has registered Ext.P13 FIR in Crime No.798/2014 for offences under Section 174(3) Cr.P.C. against all the accused. P.W.29 Deputy Superintendent of Police, Perambalur took over the investigation and he visited the scene of occurrence and prepared Ext.P16 observation mahazar and Ext.P15 rough sketch, and the body was sent for postmortem. P.W.19 doctor conducted autopsy on the body and came out with Ext.P6 postmortem certificate. He also sent a viscera for forensic examination, and Ext.P5 report was received which showed that there is no poison consumed or administered on the victim. The Investigation Officer also collected material objects M.O.1 to M.O.5. Of which, M.O.4 and M.O.5 are two cellphones, and that one cellphone belonged to the victim.

2.4 Upon receipt of report from police, the RDO (P.W.24) conducted enquiry and on confirmation that since the marriage between Nirmala and A1 was less than 7 years at the time when she committed suicide, the RDO conducted his inquest and he came out with Ext.P12, report. As per Ext.P12 , there was no dowry demand.

3. Completing the investigation, the Investigating Officer laid his final report, based on which, the Court framed following charges against all the three accused and the details are as follows :

4. When confronted, all the three accused persons denied the charges levelled against them and the charges came to be tried by the learned Sessions Judge. This Court does not intend to deal with the various evidence at length, given the finding of the trial Court. Indeed, the trial Court has