- (1.)This appeal against acquittal is filed by the State impugning the judgment and order dated 17th January, 1996 passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Thane in Sessions Case No.375 of 1989.
(2.)By the impugned judgment and order, the Sessions Court has acquitted accused Balasahab Bangal (hereinafter referred to as the accused) for an offence punishable under section 498 A and 306 of IPC.
(3.)The prosecution case was that the accused had married one Neetanjali daughter of PW 5 Dinesh Wadnekar on 14th February, 1988. After marriage the accused and Neetanjali were residing with PW5 Dinesh Wadnekar. One Jagannath Titne was residing in the neighbourhood. In the month of sharavan of 1988, there was satyanarayan pooja in the house of Jagannath Titne and therefore Titne had invited all the family members of the Wadnekar family including their son-in-law the accused. The accused did not go to the house of Jagannath for the pooja and also did not allow his wife Neetanjali to go for the pooja. Later, on 14th September, 1988 the accused came home along with a friend and after having tea they both went out. Sometime later the accused came home and when asked he said that he had taken dinner outside. Hearing this, the deceased Neetanjali starting weeping. When PW 5 Dinesh Wadnekar her father asked her as to why she was weeping she disclosed that the accused had not taken lunch and hence she had also not taken lunch. When PW 5 Dinesh Wadnekar asked about this to the accused, he told his father-in-law that Neetanjali was not talking properly with him and was not taking meals with him. He also told her father that Neetanjali was not properly paying attention towards him.