A.N.Gupta - (1.) SMT. Sunita Pandey opposite party No. 2 is the wife of petitioner No. 1 Nishant Pandey. Petitioners No. 2 and 3 are father-in-law and mother-in-law of SMT. Sunita Pandey. SMT. Sunita Pandey and Nishant Pandey were married on 21.1.1992 at Lucknow in accordance with Hindu Rites. At that time, Nishant Pandey was working in the Merchant Navy and, therefore, he used to remain mostly on the High Seas during the better part of the year. During this time SMT. Sunita Pandey was putting up with her-in-laws who are also residents of Lucknow. Sri. M. P. B. Tripathi, the father of SMT. Sunita Pandey is residing at Lucknow. He is a retired Commissioned Officer of the Army.
(2.) ON 25.3.1994, Nishant Pandey had filed a case for restitution of conjugal rights in family court at Lucknow against Smt. Sunita Pandey under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act which continued for about two years without decision and ultimately Nishant Pandey withdrew the said case. Sometime in the year 1996, he filed a petition for divorce under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act which is pending now before the family court at Lucknow. On 17.5.1994, Smt. Sunita Pandey filed a criminal complaint under Section 406, I. P. C. against the petitioners alleging that at the time of marriage her parents, relations and friends gave several ornaments and other articles which were "Stri Dhan" properties. The list of such articles was given in Schedule A of the complaint. It includes several gold ornaments namely four Churiyans weighing 50 grams, one gold set weighing 40 grams, Chain set weighing 20 grams, Mang Teeka weighing 6 grams, five rings and several items of furniture including cushan, matress, dinner set, gown, sarees and other clothes and Rs. 1,70,000 in cash at the time of 'Tilak', Rs. 10,001 at the time of 'Vidai' Scooter, T.V. and Rs. 7,000 in cash, etc. According to the complaint, all these articles which were her 'Stri Dhan' properties were taken by the petitioner at the time of 'Vidai'. Her-in- laws had also presented to her some ornaments, a list of which was given in Schedule B to the complaint which included neckles, ear rings and three rings (all which are of gold). It was further alleged that on 28.1.1994 Smt. Sunita Pandey was turned out from her matrimonial house. She had to reside with her parents. The petitioners kept 'Stri Dhan' properties of the complainant with them and did not return to her and they wanted to usurp the same and are trying to disappear the same. When she was turned out from her matrimonial home, her 'Stri Dhan properties were not given to her. The parents of the complainant and their relations demanded several time to return of the 'Stri Dhan' properties of the complainant but due to dishonest intention of the petitioners, they did not return the same. On 20.3.1994, the husband of the complainant along with his brothers, etc., came to the house of the parents of the complainant and demanded further dowry regarding which complainant's father had lodged an F. I. R. on 22.3.1994. It is further alleged in the complaint that inspite of complainant's repeated demands, they have not returned her aforesaid 'Stri Dhan' and they are misusing it for their benefits and as such they had committed breach of trust. The complainant was examined on 4.8.1994 under Section 200, Cr. P.C. in which she repeated the allegations on oath as contained in the complaint. Kailash Nath Misra who had participated in the marriage was examined under Section 202, Cr. P.C. and he testified to the fact that the properties mentioned in Schedule 'A' and 'B' were given to the complainant at the time or before marriage in his presence. Similar statement was made by Pandit Rakesh Kumar Chaturvedi (Purohit) under Section 202, Cr. P.C. who got performed all the ceremonies connected with the marriage including Tilak ceremony.
(3.) ON 22.3.1994, father of the complainant lodged an F. I. R, under Section 498A, I. P. C. against the petitioners alleging that on 20.3.1994 petitioner No. 1 Nishant Pandey and his brothers came to his house along with their cousin sisters, abused inmates of the house, threatened the complainant and her father with dire consequences and asked for Maruti Car in dowry. Learned Magistrate by means of his order dated 22.8.1994 has summoned the petitioners under Section 406, I.P.C. mentioning therein that a persual of the evidence recorded by him under Sections 200 and 202, Cr. P.C. and the F.I.R. dated 22.3.1994 lodged under Section 498A, I.P.C. by father of the complainant, he was satisfied that a prima facie case was made out against the petitioners under Section 406, I.P.C. This order summoning the petitioners under Section 406, I.P.C. has been challenged by filing this petition under Section 482, Cr. P.C.;