- (1.) The prosecution story is as under: Kamlesh Rani deceased, daughter of PW.3-Tej Ram was married to Sudhir Kumar, the appellant herein, on 28th July, 1989 at Maur Mandi, District Bhatinda. At the time of marriage, ornaments and cash befitting the status of the families, were given in dowry. A month after the marriage, however, the appellant and his parents Angoori Lal and Kaushalya Devi and sisters Neelam Kumari and Urmila Devi started maltreating Kamlesh Rani for having brought insufficient dowry. Sudhir Kumar also demanded a scooter for himself and a gold ring each for his sisters Neelam and Urmila. The demand was duly conveyed by Kamlesh Rani to her parents at Maur Mandi. Tej Ram promised to fulfill the demand on which Kamlesh Rani returned to her matrimonial home and was immediately questioned by her mother-in-law as to the scooter and the gold rings. Bhim Sain, brother of Kamlesh Rani, however, told them that the family was not in a position to fulfill the demand on account of financial difficulties. He, however, returned to Maur Mandi after leaving Kamlesh Rani in the matrimonial home. About 10 days prior to the incident Ramji Das-PW.2, Tej Ram's younger brother, came to Maur Mandi and told Tej Ram that the accused had given slaps to Kamlesh Rani in his presence on which he had promised that the demand for a scooter and gold rings would be fulfilled within a few days. Sudhir Kumar also came to Maur Mandi and once again reiterated the demands to his father-in-law failing which he threatened dire consequences for Kamlesh Rani. On 30th November, 1989, Bhim Sain went to the house of the accused and found the outer gate shut. On persistent ringing of the bell, Angoori Lal came out but moved away and when Bhim Sain entered the house he noticed Kamlesh Rani's dead body lying in the latrine. Bhim Sain immediately came to the house of his uncle Ramji Das PW.2, and the two then went to the police station where the former lodged the report Exh. PD on the basis of which an FIR was registered. Sub-Inspector Santokh Singh thereupon reached the place of incident and made the necessary inquiries. On completion of the investigation a challan was duly presented against Angoori Lal, Kaushalya Devi and Neelam and Urmila for an offence punishable under Sections 302/34 of the IPC and the matter was brought for trial to the Court of Sessions. The Court of Sessions, however, charged the accused under Sections 302/149 IPC read with Section 304B of the IPC in the alternative.
(2.) The prosecution in support of its case relied on the evidence of PW.1 Dr. S.S. Malik who had performed the post-mortem on the dead body, the three primary witnesses PW.2-Ramji Das, PW.3-Tej Ram and PW.4-Sat Paul, also an uncle of the deceased, in addition to the formal evidence of Santokh Singh the I.O. The statements of the accused were thereafter recorded under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C. and they denied the allegations simplicitor. Sudhir Kumar, however, took up additional plea: I am innocent. I have been falsely involved. This occurrence has taken place before noon time and at that time myself and my father Angoori Lal were present at our medical store while my sister Neelam Kumari was teaching at private school and Urmila was at her in-laws house. I was suffering from Epilepsy and used to be treated by Dr. Sohan Lal Grover and other senior doctors before and after marriage and due to the effect of the drugs I was unable to perform the sexual intercourse and for that reason my wife used to remain under depression. After the occurrence we were summoned from the shop. I never maltreated or demanded dowry from the parents of the deceased.
(3.) They also produced some evidence in defence. The trial Court on an appreciation of the evidence convicted the appellant and Kaushalya Devi, his mother under Section 304B of the IPC and sentenced them to R.I. of seven years. Angoori Lal, Urmila and Neelam were, however, acquitted. An appeal was thereafter taken to the High Court, which, in its judgment dated 7th April, 2003, which has been impugned in the present proceedings, allowed the appeal of Kaushalya Devi as well. This appeal by way of special leave is, therefore, confined only to Sudhir Kumar, the husband of the deceased.;