SC upholds conviction of man held for killing his mother

New Delhi, Mar 5 (UNI) The Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and sentence of a man who had beaten his blind and aged mother to death for not being able to serve food to him.

A bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and P Sathasivam dismissed the appeal of Shankar Ragho Bhagane who beat his mother Girja Ragho Bhagane to death on Jan 21, 1999.

The appellant had also threatened his sister Parvati, who was looking after her blind parents, that he would set her house on fire and ''dismember her legs'' if she did not stop looking after the parents.

The trial court and the High Court found Shankar guilty of the murder of his mother holding that it was the height of brutality.

The apex court, while dismissing the appeal of the appellant, noted in its judgment on March 4, ''The accused had threatned her sister to set her house on fire and cut her legs. According to her (sister), the accused was unhappy with her as she was looking after his parents. There is nothing discrepant in her evidence to cast doubt on her testimony.

''Above being the position, the trial court and the High court were justified in holding the accused guilty and convicting him for offence punishable under section 302 IPC. The appeal has no merit and deserves dismissal which we direct.'' The appellant had challenged Bombay High Court judgement upholding life imprisonment awarded to him by the trial court.

UNI AKS/SC DS HT1612