On 31st August, 1998 at about 6.15 P.M., when her husband had gone out, the accused Suvarnamma brought kerosene can, poured kerosene on the deceased Soumya and ignited the fire.
In absence thereof, the death had to be taken to be by accident.
It was doubtful that the death was either homicidal or suicidal.
The prosecution also examined the medical experts and the investigating officers.
Soumya died on 3rd September, 1998.
The case of the prosecution is that the deceased Soumya was married to the accused Manjunath on 13th May, 1996.
PW 22, Taluqa Executive Magistrate, was examined to prove the inquest report.
The accused denied the prosecution allegations and stated that they were taken out of their house by the police at 12 A.M. mid night and arrested and were number aware of anything.
The prosecution examined 26 witnesses which included the family members of the deceased who gave evidence of demand of dowry and also the oral dying declarations made before them.
She was living with her husband and his mother companyaccused Suvarnamma.
She cried for help but Suvernamma put a rug on her.
She was number treated well and was harassed for dowry.
The dying declaration recorded by PW 22 was number produced though recording of such statement was admitted by the PW 19, Dr. Rajeshwari Devi and the Taluka Executive Magistrate, PW 22.
Thereafter, she shifted her to Chigateri General Hospital, Davangere.
The prosecution failed to discharge the burden to prove this fact.
Next day in the morning of 1st September, 1998, at about 7 A.M., PW 26, Dhananjaya, PSI, in the presence of PW 19, Dr. Rajeshwari Devi recorded her statement and on that basis registered First Information Report.
After investigation, the accusedthe husband, the mother in law and the sister in law, were sent up for trial.
PW 19, Dr. Rajeshwari Devi, examined her.
