Case Note & Summary
The case arises out of the death of Surekha, wife of appellant Gunwant @ Dhudaku Trymbak Patil, and the appellant's subsequent attempt to commit suicide. The prosecution alleged that after the marriage on 30th April 2011, the appellant and his family members subjected Surekha to cruelty and harassment in connection with a demand for dowry of Rs.1 lakh for purchasing a room at Pune. Surekha's father, Pandurang Narayan Patil, lodged a complaint on 16th June 2011, stating that the accused had ill-treated Surekha and, after a prior incident where she was taken back to her parental home, she was again sent with the accused on 13th June 2011 on their assurance of good behavior. On 16th June 2011, at around 2.00-2.30 a.m., the complainant was informed that Surekha had died. He found her body on the veranda of the accused's house with injuries on neck, abdomen, and leg caused by a sharp weapon. The appellant was found with self-inflicted injuries and was admitted to hospital. The trial court, vide common judgment dated 15th July 2013 in Sessions Case No.28 of 2011 and Sessions Case No.51 of 2012, convicted the appellant under Section 302 IPC for murder and under Section 309 IPC for attempt to commit suicide, sentencing him to life imprisonment and simple imprisonment for six months respectively, with sentences to run concurrently. Co-accused were acquitted. The appellant filed two criminal appeals before the High Court of Bombay at Aurangabad. The High Court heard the appeals and reserved judgment on 13th July 2017, later pronouncing judgment on 3rd August 2017. The extract provided ends before the court's analysis and decision. Therefore, the legal issues, arguments, and the High Court's reasoning and final decision are not available from the text.
Issue of Consideration
Whether the trial court correctly convicted the appellant under Sections 302 and 309 of the Indian Penal Code.
