Two get life term for murder of housewife

AURANGABAD: Nanded principal sessions judge Savita Barne on Tuesday sentenced the mother-in law and brother-in law of a pregnant housewife to life imprisonment for burning her to death in May last year. The court however, acquitted the victim’s husband and her father-in-law for lack of evidence.
According to prosecution lawyer D G Shinde, Kavita Laxman Pawale (22) of Malegaon in Ardhapur taluka was admitted to the Nanded civil hospital with severe burns on May 20.She was two months’ pregnant.
In her statement to the police, she had said that her mother-in-law, Parvatibai Pawale, picked a quarrel with her over non-payment of Rs 10,000 her father had promised before marriage. Kavita’s husband Lakhan, brother-in-law Narendra and father-in-law Dynandeo were present in the house. When the women were exchanging heated words, Kavita’s husband and father-in-law went out.
However, Parvatibai and Narendra continued to shower abuses on her in the presence of her two-and-a-half year old son. Narendra told the victim that she didnt suit his brother and then both Narendra and Parvatibai poured kerosene on her person and set her afire. Following her cries, her husband and father-in-law rushed in and poured water on her to douse the flames and subsequently rushed her to the civil hospital.
Based on her statement, police registered an offence against the four, including husband and father-in-law, under section 307 (attempt to murder), 498 (harassment for dowry) and 34 common intention. The then police inspector, Satish Gaikwadi, and assistant police inspector Deepak Dantulwar investigated the matter.
Kavita succumbed to her burns the following month, on June 6, following which the police added section 302 (murder) against the four submitted a charge-sheet. The prosecution examined 12 witnesses, of whom Kavita’s father turned hostile. However, the judge considered other evidences and sentenced Narendra and his mother Parvatibai to life imprisonment and fined them Rs 500 each.