SIRI BHAGWAN Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This judgment will dispose of two appeals, i.e., Criminal Appeal No. 1212 -SB of 1999, filed by appellant -husband Siri Bhagwan, and Criminal Appeal No. 448 -DBA of 2000, filed by the State of Haryana, as these arise out of one and the same incident and judgment. For facility of dictating judgment, facts are being taken from Criminal Appeal No. 1212 -SB of 1999.

(2.) Appellant Siri Bhagwan and his mother Bhateri Devi were made to face trial for commission of offences under Ss. 498A/304B read with Sec. 34 of the Indian Penal Code on the allegations that they had subjected Smt. Kavita alias Babita, cruelty / harassment to coerce her to meet their unlawful demand of dowry and thus forced her to burn herself to death on October 29, 1998.

(3.) Trial Court, on appreciation of evidence of record, acquitted Bhateri Devi (respondent in Criminal Appeal No. 448 -DBA of 2000) of the charges framed against her. Siri Bhagwan, appellant -husband was convicted and qua him, following order awarding sentence was passed: