Maharashtra court imposes death sentence on man for burning wife, son, father-in-law

A sessions court in Maharashtra's Gondia recently sentenced a man to death for burning his wife, son and father-in-law to death in February last year..Additional Sessions Judge NB Lavte passed the judgment on May 9..According to a press note issued by Gondia's Superintendent (SP) of Police, the accused used to doubt his wife's character and would often pick fights with her.At his maternal home on February 14, 2023, when his father-in-law was asleep, he poured petrol on him and set him ablaze. When his wife and 4-year-old son entered the scene, he set them and the entire house ablaze.The accused's father-in-law lost his life immediately while his wife and son succumbed to their injuries about a week later.A day after the incident, a case was registered under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempted murder), 436 (mischief by fire or any explosive substance) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), leading to the arrest of the accused on February 16, 2023..The sessions court, relying on seized material, circumstantial evidence, CCTV footage and witness statements, convicted the accused of offences under Sections 302 and 436 of the IPC.For the offence under Section 302, he was sentenced to death and fined ₹10,000. For the offence under Section 436, he was sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of ₹10,000.A reference has now been made to the Bombay High Court under Section 366 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for confirmation of the death sentence.As per the provision, when a sessions court passes a death sentence, the matter should be referred to the High Court, and the death sentence cannot be executed unless it is confirmed by the High Court..The State of Maharashtra was represented before the sessions court by Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Vijay Kolhe who was assisted by advocate Vedant Pandey.