Man gets 7 years RI for wife’s suicide

 

Unable to bear the harassment, the woman set herself on fire in 2009. According to the prosecution, B. Raja of Thiru.Vi. Ka. Nagar, Teynampet, married Senbagavalli despite opposition from both their families, in 2002. They were blessed with two sons.

 

Since 2005, he turned alcoholic and would quarrel with Senbagavalli after drinking liquor. Raja, running a shop, borrowed huge amounts from several persons in the area. In order to meet the household expenditure and repay the loan, Senbagavalli became a maid. 

 

Whenever her work was delayed, her employer used to drop her near her residence by car. So, Raja began to suspect her fidelity. 

On March 6, 2009, she returned home at 8.30 pm after work. 

 

Angered at this, Raja had a heated altercation with her and told her to commit suicide. Dejected at this, she poured kerosene over herself and set herself on fire. 

 

She suffered grievous burn injuries and died in hospital on March 12. The Teynampet police registered a case against Raja under sections 498-A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide), IPC.

 

On completion of trial, mahila court judge Meena Sathish found that the prosecution proved the case beyond doubt. She awarded three years’ RI to him for committing the offence under section 498-A and seven years for committing the offence under section 306 of IPC. The sentences will run concurrently, the judge added.