Mumbai: Relying on the dying declaration of a disabled man, a sessions court convicted his 39-year-old cousin for setting him ablaze to grab his property and awarded him life imprisonment.
According to the prosecution, the victim Sunil Katele, 40, was disabled in both legs and his parents died in his childhood. The accused, Santosh Katele, used to abuse and assault him frequently, said the prosecution, adding that the incident took place on the morning of December 27, 2017.
One of the residents of the building, where Sunil resided, saw smoke emanating from his house. They rushed to the victim’s house and saw Santosh pouring inflammable liquid on Sunil and setting him on fire, said the prosecution.
In the hospital, the police recorded Sunil’s statement wherein he alleged that Santosh poured petrol on him and set him ablaze because he was not ready to bequeath his room to him. The victim succumbed later and the accused was arrested the same day and had remained in prison.
Public prosecutor Sudhir Sapkale examined 10 witnesses, while the defence claimed that the fire was caused because of a cylinder blast and Santosh has been falsely implicated. The court, however, rejected the argument, saying that the dying declaration is found to be trustful and reliable.
