THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K.SURENDER AND THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE E.V.VENUGOPAL CRIMINAL APPEAL No.411 of 2019

JUDGMENT:

(Per Hon’ble Sri Justice K.Surender)

This Criminal Appeal is filed by the appellant/accused, aggrieved by the judgment and sentence dated 07.06.2019 in S.C.No.6 of 2017, on the file of the I Additional Sessions Judge, Warangal, whereby the appellant was convicted for the offences punishable under Sections 302 and 201 of IPC.

2. Heard Smt. C.Vasundara, learned counsel for the appellant/accused, Sri Arun Kumar Dodla, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for respondent No.1 – State and Sri M.Vivekananda Reddy, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor for respondent No.2.

3. The case of the prosecution is that Chandupatla Padma (hereinafter referred to as ‘the deceased’) is the senior paternal aunt of the appellant. The appellant used to suspect that the deceased was practicing sorcery/witchcraft, for which reason he and his family members developed grudge against the deceased. Few months prior to the incident, the cotton crop of the deceased was damaged. It is alleged that the appellant was responsible for the damage of the said crop and the deceased and PW.1 complained