Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru (RJP)

Mangaluru, Dec 22: A man was convicted here on Wednesday, December 21 for killing his wife under section 302 and 498 A of Indian Penal Code.

Raja (44) from Moodushedde, a cobbler by profession, is the person convicted.

Second sessions court which pronounced the verdict here said that quantum of punishment will be decided on December 23.

As per details of the case, Raja was married to Rani since 1994. She bore three children. Raja suspected her of having extra marital affair and harassed her. Their neighbours had complained to Kavoor police station on June 20 in 2010 that the couple had fight every day. Based on this, Raja was called to the police station and was asked to write an undertaking that he would not harass his wife.

But his harassment continued. He even fought with her complaining she did not cook the food well. On September 1 in 2011, Raja poured kerosene into Rani and set her on fire. When she ran out from the house, neighbours managed to extinguish the fire. Raja also cooperated with them acting as if he was innocent. Raja too had sustained minor burn injuries. Both husband and wife were admitted to the hospital for treatment. Rani could not speak for some days. But later when she could talk, she told the police that her husband had set her on fire.

Raja who was arrested subsequently faced trial and managed to secure bail. But when it became clear that he would be convicted, he stopped attending court and absconded. But on September 20 in 2016, police arrested him.

Raja claimed that Rani set herself on fire. His elder son also testified in support of him. But the court relied on the dying declaration of Rani and also considered the witnesses who had complained to police and the witnesses who came for help during the time Rani was set on fire and the medical certificate given by the hospital. Hence Raja could not be saved from conviction.

K Shivaprasad and B Shekhar Shetty were prosecutors in the case.