In Brief
A husband was convicted of murdering his wife by setting her alight after demanding additional dowry. The trial court acquitted him, but the High Court reversed the acquittal and convicted him under IPC Section 302 (murder) and related dowry provisions. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction, holding that while the High Court need not explicitly address the trial court's reasoning, the Supreme Court can confirm the conviction if satisfied the trial court's approach was patently erroneous. The victim's dying declaration to a magistrate, where she identified her husband and explained earlier false statements, corroborated by medical evidence and witness testimony, clearly established guilt. Dismissing the appeal, the Court held no other reasonable view of the evidence was possible.
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