1 APPLN-518.11 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY APPELLATE SIDE CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO.518 OF 2011 The State of Maharashtra .... Applicant Vs. Laxman Dhondiba Jankar & Ors. .... Respondents Shri Rajesh More, APP,for the Applicant-State. CORAM: R.C. CHAVAN, J. DATED: JULY 04, 2011 P.C: This is an application for leave to file appeal against acquittal of the respondents for the offences punishable under Sections 306 and 498-A r/w Section 34 of the IPC, ordered by the learned Assistant Sessions Judge, Satara. The allegation was that the respondents used to demand a sum of Rs.50,000/- in order to repay some old debts and on account of non-fulfillment of the demand, used to ill- treat Chhaya, the victim. She therefore committed suicide by setting herself on fire and died of 100% burns. It is not in dispute that respondent No.4 Santosh, the victim's 2 APPLN-518.11 husband, had also sustained substantial burn injuries on both his hands, chest, etc., because of attempt to extinguish the fire. It is not the prosecution's case that the respondents had tried to set Chhaya on fire. Therefore, the burn injuries on Santosh can be explained only as injuries sustained in his attempt to extinguish the fire which would be inconsistent with the allegation of instigation to commit suicide. Further, account of ill- treatment on account of unfulfilled demand of Rs.50,000/- has surfaced only after the death of the victim. Lastly and most importantly, the victim's brother, who was examined as PW-1, unabashedly stated before the Court that he and his father had demanded a sum of Rs.1,50,000/- from the accused after the incident towards the expenditure incurred for getting the sister married. The view taken by the learned Judge cannot be faulted. Leave refused. Appeal dismissed. (R.C. CHAVAN, J.)