PRABHUDAYAL HIRALAL DEJJUKA vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

The Supreme Court held that the death of Sangita was a homicide, not suicide, as evidenced by the circumstances surrounding her death, including the presence of strangulation injuries prior to burning. The Court emphasized the necessity of examining circumstantial evidence, concluding that the cumulative effect of the evidence negated the innocence of the husband and father-in-law, leading to their conviction under Sections 302, 201, and 498A IPC read with Section 34. The mother-in-law and sister-in-law were acquitted due to insufficient evidence of their involvement.