Hyderabad: Woman sentenced to 10 years of jail for setting husband on fire in Kattedan murder case

Hyderabad: Nearly nine years after a man was set ablaze in Kattedan in Ranga Reddy district and later succumbed to burn injuries, a city court has convicted his wife and sentenced her to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.

The III Additional District and Sessions Court at LB Nagar found Kotha Laxmi (36) guilty in the 2017 murder case and imposed a fine of Rs 3,000. In default of payment, she will undergo an additional two months of rigorous imprisonment.

What was the incident in 2017?

The case dates to April 6, 2017, when the crime occurred at Padmashalipuram in Kattedan under Rajendranagar mandal of Ranga Reddy district.

According to the prosecution, the victim, P Ravi (26), a labourer who had no close family support, had married Laxmi two years before the incident. The couple reportedly had frequent quarrels. On the afternoon of April 6, an argument broke out after Ravi asked his wife to cook food.

During the altercation, Laxmi allegedly poured kerosene on herself and then on Ravi, before setting his shirt on fire with a matchstick. Ravi ran out of the house in flames, and neighbours managed to douse the fire.

He was shifted to Osmania General Hospital by ambulance with severe burn injuries from his neck to his abdomen and on his hands. The incident was reported in the early hours of April 7, 2017.

Trial and conviction

After investigation, police filed a chargesheet in SC No. 41/2020 (Crime No. 252/2017) under Section 302 of the IPC.

Following a detailed trial, the court, on February 3, held the accused guilty and awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine.

The investigation was conducted by Inspector P Jagadeeshwar, then Inspector of Mailardevpally Police Station. The prosecution was led by Additional Public Prosecutor D Raghu.