A Second Additional Sessions Court here has sentenced a woman for life imprisonment for the murder of her daughter-in-law and her son for three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000 each.
Judge Veeranna G Tigadi delivered the verdict.
The convicts Seetamma and her son Srinivas are residents of Dharmarayanagar in the city. Lakshmi, a resident of Maruti Layout in Srinivaspur, was married to Srinivas in 2001. However, the mother-son duo soon starting harassing her to bring more money.
Srinivas was demanding money to clear off the loans taken for the marriage of his sister Seeta.
On September 24, 2011, Seetamma along with sons Srinivas and Gangadhara Murthy and daughter Seeta, poured kerosene on Lakshmi and set her ablaze. She was admitted to a hospital, where she died the following day.
The city police submitted a dowry harassment and murder charge sheet against the four in the court. While court found Seetamma and Srinivas guilty, it acquitted Seeta and Gangadharamurthy of the charges.
Srinivas, convicted of dowry harassment, may have to spend another six months in jail failing to pay the fine amount of Rs 25,000.
The court has also ordered a deposit of Rs one lakh each in the names of Srinivas’s children Kushala and Puneeth.
The court has authorised Gouramma, mother of Lakshmi, to spend the interest amount on the education of the children.
Principal Public Prosecutor Pujari Rudrappa argued on behalf of government while M Srinivas argued on behalf of the accused.
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